As long as the public
sector complaint procedures cover-up industry, aided by the fraudulent
Ombudsman system, rules the roost – then the FOI act is doomed!
Having dealt with
corrupt public sector complaints procedures, and learned much about its
cover-up culture that protects incompetent, fraudulent and corrupt civil
servants, with their entrenched self-protective civil service cover-up
industry, one can see how the FOI act (that has much public sector
incompetence and fraud to investigate) struggles to gain acceptance by
civil servants and their Associations!
One can see how FOI
cases are closed down by the ICO, not simply to protect their public sector
miscreant colleagues, but because there is also an historical reluctance
leading to a lack of co-operation by civil servants to “blow the gaffe” or
“grass” on their fellow public sector colleagues.
Taking into account
that a large number of FOI complaints sent to the ICO will relate to civil
servants of all ranks, one can see that the FOI act is not popular amongst
civil servants. That’s why there is so much dragging of feet and closing down
of many FOI cases.
Civil servants
pointing the finger at each other is almost unheard of, then there are the
entrenched “Old Pals Acts “ that must be obeyed!
Civil servants simply
don’t like having their own or their colleagues indiscretions publicised. It
therefore simply becomes a non-starter by self-protective civil servants to
allow public access to the FOI act. IT WOULD SIMPLY DESTROY THE PUBLIC SECTORS
MACHIAVELLIAN COVER-UP INDUSTRY.
First of all one has to
realise just how entrenched the public sector cover-up industry really is. It
protects virtually all civil service miscreants. On occasions even fabricated
evidence is produced to protect them from public scrutiny, denying much
transparency and accountability.
Collusion becomes rife,
antiquated civil service rituals take place, as when even the most idiotic,
the most incompetent of staff, instead of being kicked out are given
‘gardening leave’ etc.
There is also of
course, the continuing subversive protection given to civil servants by the
wretched undemocratic Ombudsman service.
We have pointed out
before where Ombudsman have over the years by deceitful orchestration given
themselves much tyrannical power – where instead of protecting the public as
was intended – they became by devious design, persecutors of citizens rights.
The last thing the Ombudsman system want to see is a successful FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION ACT!
One is continually
reading of public sector abuse against members of the public, who have little
or no recourse to honest investigation!
Whilst the FOI act was
a fantastic democratic idea/breakthrough it cannot succeed. It means the
cleansing of many government departments and the abolition of many civil
servants ‘old pals acts’!
The much needed
cleansing of government departments and staff is not popular within the public
sector Associations!
It has been shown that
civil service Associations have the power to scuttle, submerge and even
destroy transparency and democratic notions!
Once the public sectors
Old Pals Act ‘kicks in’ and opposes the democratic FOI Act it will become
doomed.
It was a forgone
conclusion that the ‘noble’ idea, (the FOI act) would be sabotaged by the
entrenched undemocratic public sector self- protective cover-up industry.
AW & I Tanner