Crashed Santa plans among odd requests to councils
Every year, people send hundreds of thousands of bizarre “Freedom of Information Requests” to City Councils in England and Wales. This year, almost 200,000 requests were made.
Some asked how they would help Santa and his reindeer if they crashed or what percentage of Hampshire County Council's drawing pins were actually stuck in pin boards. Others asked about their County's readiness for a zombie attack or how much money they had paid to exorcists.
The Freedom of Information Act gives the public the right to access information by public authorities. Some of those requests waste authorities' time.
Here are five odd requests that were made this year:
- What preparations has the council made for an emergency landing of Santa's sleigh this Christmas? Who would be responsible for rescuing Santa? Who would be responsible for rounding up the reindeer, and who would have to tidy the crash site? (Cheltenham Borough Council)
- How does the council plan to help the brave soldiers of our infantry if and when Napoleon and his marauding hordes invade the district? (West Devon District Council)
- What plans are in place to deal with an alien invasion? (Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service)
- How many drawing pins are in the building and what percentage are currently stuck in a pin board? (Hampshire County Council)
- How many holes in privacy walls between toilet cubicles have been found in public lavatories and council buildings? (Cornwall Council)
(from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16302375)
I would really like to know what you think about this because in my opinion these requests are more than just strange or unnecessary ;)