Section 52 — Freedom of Information Act 2000: Enforcement notices.

Enforcement notices. 52 1 If the Commissioner is satisfied that a public authority has failed to comply with any of the requirements of Part I, the Commissioner may serve the authority with a notice (in this Act referred to as “ an enforcement notice ”) requiring the authority to take, within such time as may be specified in the notice, such steps as may be so specified for complying with those requirements.

2 An enforcement notice must contain—

a a statement of the requirement or requirements of Part I with which the Commissioner is satisfied that the public authority has failed to comply and his reasons for reaching that conclusion, and b particulars of the right of appeal conferred by section 57.

3 An enforcement notice must not require any of the provisions of the notice to be complied with before the end of the period within which an appeal can be brought against the notice and, if such an appeal is brought, the notice need not be complied with pending the determination or withdrawal of the appeal.

4 The Commissioner may cancel an enforcement notice by written notice to the authority on which it was served.

5 This section has effect subject to section 53.