Four years after we commenced down this road to unearth the truth, what have we achieved.

We have learnt that Jim Fletcher and Mary Montague were behind the original closed room request to the area police commander.

We have become aware that the police have time after time elongated processes that are regulated to be concluded within a relatively short period of time, and refused to produce material that they should have.

As a consequence of the conduct of Police Scotland we have made two complaints to the Freedom of Information Commissioner (Scotland) regarding their failure to comply with the FOI legislation.

Both upheld.

We also made a complaint to the Police Investigations Review Commissioner (Scotland) (PIRC) about Police Scotland, with regards to their handling of our compliant.

Upheld.

We also made two complaints concerning the conduct of Police Scotland to the Freedom of Information Commissioner (England) with regards to their failure to comply with the Data Protection Legislation.

Both upheld.

We have now lodged ten complaints with regard Police Scotland and their further alleged conduct in this matter.

Decision awaited

Two departments are involved in this matter and have been since the beginning.

Information Management.

Professional Standards.

In 2015 staff in both departments (based at Pitt Street, Glasgow) are continuing with exactly the same conduct that they have over the past four years.

Delaying tactics - Professional Standards

The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) requested information from the Professional Standards Department in order that they could deal with our complaint.

Police Scotland failed to respond and the PIRC required to send a reminder and only then was the information provided, some four weeks after the reminder was sent by the PIRC. (22nd January 2015)

Delaying tactics - Information Management

The Information Commissioners Office (England) (ICO) issued a finding that Police Scotland required to furnish material under the Data Protection Act and that they had failed to comply with the legislation.

This finding (Instruction) was issued to Police Scotland on 16th January 2015.

Police Scotland wrote to us on 28th January 2015 and stated that they were seeking further clarification from the ICO.

On 19th February 2015 Police Scotland contacted the ICO by telephone and asked for that clarification, which was provided.

It is our understanding that Angela Patterson who is the Data Protection & Freedom of Information Manager at Police Scotland, Pitt Street, Glasgow is most unhappy that her placing a section 31 regulation on the information has not been accepted by the ICO.

She has now apparently referred the matter to the Police Scotland solicitors who will presumably be working to see how they can disagree with the ICO's determination in this matter.

In short section 31 makes Personal Data exempt when used to discharge part of their regulatory functions, ie. policing.

We had argued that Police Scotland were using this as a blanket exemption to prevent any disclosure at all.

This was upheld and Police Scotland were instructed to disclose certain parts of the material that they hold.

Remember that this is a personal data request, Tom Taylor is requesting his own data only.

We understand that the case officer at the ICO in Wilmslow, Cheshire made the decision and then had the good sense to have his manager check and agree his decision, that Police Scotland are now apparently questioning.

Next step...... as usual waiting on a response from Police Scotland.

Letter in today