The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has published the ICO charter for responsible freedom of information requests. The Information Commissioner announced plans to develop the charter in May 2007, to help to prevent requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) which have no serious purpose or value, impose disproportionate burdens or have the effect of harassing a public body (see Legal update, Information Commissioner to develop new guidelines to deter vexatious requests). The charter is aimed at individuals and organisations who propose to make requests under the FOIA and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), and sets out how the ICO believes the rights under the FOIA and EIR can be used responsibly for the benefit of applicants and public authorities. It is not a legal document and is meant to be used as a guide to help users make effective use of the FOIA and the EIR.

Source: ICO charter for responsible freedom of information requests.