FOI Friday: Jollies in Cannes, guilty police, empty homes, naughty soldiers and road rage incidents

So does a trip to MIPIM pay off? < Brixton Buzz £20,000 was taken by Lambeth Council from four property developers to help fund the trip to Cannes by four council employees. A Freedom of Information Request shows that although “conversations took place” at MIPIM World back in March, no actual deals were reached following

FOI Friday: Unidentified bodies, chugging, bedroom tax costs and ambulance delays

How many unidentified bodies have been discovered by police? < Liverpool Echo THE ECHO today explores the riddle of 11 mystery bodies that lay open on Merseyside Police’s files. The unidentified bodies and body parts – dating back to 1972 – include a decomposed foot found in a trainer which washed up on Hightown beach

FOI Friday: Social workers sacked, unsolved crimes, bailiffs after benefit cuts and dodgy drivers

Thirty-year-old unsolved murders in Surrey – Surrey Advertiser/GetSurrey A total of 41 murder cases in the county – the earliest dating back to 1974 – remain unsolved to this day, the Surrey Advertiser can reveal. Data released under the Freedom of Information Act has revealed murders in Epsom, Ash, Guildford, Effingham, Ashtead, Virginia Water and

Arise, your newspaper: How regional newspapers covered the New Year Honours

If you saw the national newspapers or TV news on Saturday, then you’ll know that The New Year Honours were somewhat dominated by  Olympians. And why not? 2012, after all, is a year which will be remembered for sport.

FOI Friday: Council workers earning less than a living wage, mental health wards and publicly-funded competitions

From revealing the impact of hospital ward closures to the number of people working for councils below a living wage – here are 10 FOI ideas from around the country

FOI Friday: Expensive mayors, pensioner coppers, dirty takeaways and expensive Town Hall art

  1. Can we afford mayors these days? In these tight times, can councils afford to continue to fund the role of mayor? One way of finding out would be to ask how much the role of mayor has cost over the past five years. Guardian Local Leeds reports on the very detailed breakdown released