Your Right to Know: How to Use the Freedom of Information Act and Other Access Laws [Paperback]

"'This book is an invaluable tool enabling campaigners, lawyers and interested members of the public to negotiate the Freedom of Information Act.' Gareth Crossman, Head of Policy, Liberty"

Both revealing and practical, Your Right to Know is a necessary antidote to the British culture of secrecy

Heather Brooke tells readers how they can successfully challenge the system using the latest public access laws.

"I found this book to be an eye opener. ... I will certainly be using [it] myself." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"All journalists should pick up these tricks." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"Both revealing and practical, Your Right to Know is a necessary antidote to the British culture of secrecy." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"Heather Brooke has written the Information Liberation Front guide to end the politicians’ enslavement of the facts ... Bravo." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"Heather Brooke tells readers how they can successfully challenge the system using the latest public access laws." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The public had no right to most of this information - until now. On 1 January 2005 the Freedom of Information Act came into force giving the British public a legal right for the first time to access information from more than 100,000 public authorities. But in order to take advantage of this new right you first have to know who holds the information and how to get it. Your Right to Know gives you the tools you need to get the information you want. It explains all the main laws of access in clear language with practical advice on how to file actual requests. Chapters deal in depth with how to get information from all areas of public life: central government, transport, security and defense, the justice system, police and law enforcement, health, the environment, education, local government, business, and individuals. You'll find in each chapter an outline of who is responsible for what, where to go for information and how to get that information and hold public servants and public agencies accountable. If you've ever wanted to force open the secretive doors of government, this is the guide you need.

"Information is born free, but everywhere is in chains. Heather Brooke has written the Information Liberation Front guide to end the politicians' enslavement of the facts which belong to the public. Bravo."
Greg Palast, author The Best Democracy Money Can Buy

"Heather Brooke pulls no punches when it comes to exposing how the government, public institutions and private companies all keep the British public in the dark. Even better, she tells readers how they can successfully challenge the system using the latest public access laws."
Michael Crick, BBC journalist

"Both revealing and practical, Your Right to Know is a necessary antidote to the British culture of secrecy"
David Banisar, Deputy Director of Privacy International

"Labour had been promising freedom of information for decades. Now we are getting it we need to keep the pressure on, and this is just the book to do that. All journalists should pick up these tricks."
Jeremy Dear, General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists

"Even with my knowledge of Britain's secretive and undemocratic system of government, I found this book to be an eye opener. It highlights the ways in which citizens have been denied access to even the most basic information and how the Crown uses copyright to prevent individuals from accessing, for example, transcripts of court cases.
At the same time, it draws attention to the weaknesses and shortcomings of the new Freedom of Information Act, particularly with regard to the law enforcement and intelligence agencies who remain exempt from disclosure, no matter what crimes they have committed.
The book is also a practical and comprehensive guide to getting information from a variety of institutions, including contact points, addresses and template letters. I will certainly be using the book myself to access public records about my case which have until now remained secret. I will also be using the arguments in the book to challenge the absolute rule against disclosure of intelligence documents."
David Shayler, former MI5 officer

Before taking on the secretive British government, Heather Brooke worked in the United States as a newspaper reporter covering politics and crime (not at the same time). She used the American FOI Act to uncover politicians' misuse of public funds for travel and personal election campaigning while covering the Washington state Legislature. Later, as a crime reporter in South Carolina for New York Times newspapers, she uncovered flaws in the state's forensic crime lab and exposed dangerous practices in funeral homes. Both investigations resulted in changes to state law. Heather has worked as a publicity assistant for BBC International Television and copywriter for BBC Audiobooks. She has written articles for The Guardian. Evening Standard and the New Zealand Herald. She lives in London and Florida.