Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about information on a Council website as any fault by the Council has not caused significant injustice to the complainant.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council’s website does not make it clear that members of the public do not need a permit to take photographs/film in public. Mr X complains he was unlawfully interrogated by the police who he says cited information from the Council website. Mr X complains the Council told him it would look to provide further clarification but that no changes have been made to the website. Mr X wants the Council to do this.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide any fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained, or we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The Council is not accountable for any action the police took against Mr X. Any complaint about that should be directed to the police. We have no jurisdiction over such complaints.
6. While I recognise Mr X is dissatisfied as he says the Council has not made changes to its website, I do not consider this causes him a level of injustice that would warrant our involvement.
7. For these reasons we will not investigate.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because any fault by the Council has not caused him a significant injustice.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman