Sarwat Jahan v The Information Commissioner & Anor

Facts

The appellant, Sarwat Jahan, requested from the London Borough of Redbridge copies of all Penalty Charge Notices issued by Civil Enforcement Officers in and around Torbitt Way and William Torbitt Primary School on 27 and 28 February 2023, broken down by specified time bands. The Borough replied that one PCN had been issued between 15:00 and 15:45 on 27 February and two within the same period on 28 February, but withheld copies as personal data under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. On internal review the appellant explained that two of the three PCNs had been issued to her and that she sought only the third, issued to another person, with personal data removed; the Borough maintained its refusal. She complained to the Commissioner in December 2023, disputing the circumstances in which the PCNs issued to her had been raised. Investigating, the Commissioner found the Borough did not retain copies of PCNs as issued, only the underlying data. By Decision Notice of 1 July 2024 he held the exemption engaged, the appellant already having the generic content of a PCN. She appealed to the First-tier Tribunal, contending that what she sought was not personal data.