Dragon attacks, exorcisms and tiger licences . . . just an average day at work for a Freedom of Information officer.
Well, not always, but you’ll soon learn the public preoccupy themselves with some very strange thoughts.
For example, a resident in Wigan had obviously binge-watched too many Game of Thrones episodes when they requested to know what kind of plans the local council had in place if there ever was a dragon attack.
Another council was asked how many times it had paid for an exorcist and if the service had been performed on a child or a pet.
Other requests have enquired into the uses of psychics and religious healers – not on a living being, as one would assume, but on buildings.
In Scarborough, well known for its tropical climate and wildlife, there was a request to find out how many people had licences for lions or tigers.
Of course, authorities can refuse to answer if a request is repeatedly sent, is too expensive or if the information cannot be disclosed.
This means it’s up to the Freedom of Information (FOI) officer to know when to proceed and when to draw the line.
As the first point of contact for access to info, they will deal with requests from individual members of the public and large organisations – managing the process from call to completion.
Aside from answering the queries about unicorns (they’re real) and UFOs (they’re not), an FOI officer can find themselves dealing with complex enquiries and so must ensure all of the relevant legislation is kept in play.
In fact, a working knowledge of Freedom of Information law is essential – and that’s why FOI roles can be found among the Legal vacancies on s1jobs.
Carrying out research and writing clear and concise reports requires a mind that loves paying attention to the smallest details.
While much of the research can be a solo mission there will also be times when an FOI officer must thrive on the buzz of working as part of a large team.
A Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information is the practical must-have qualification if you’d like to work in this area.
And if you’ve experience in researching and analysing dragon attacks, a top job as an FOI officer could be for you.
You can find out more about a whole range of Legal vacancies on s1jobs.