110   Orders to restrain making of unmeritorious access applications

(1)  The ADT may order that a person is not permitted to make an access application without first obtaining the approval of the ADT if the ADT is satisfied that the person has made at least 3 access applications (to one or more agencies) in the previous 2 years that lack merit. Such an order is a restraint order.

(2)  An access application is to be regarded as lacking merit if:

(a)  the agency decided the application by refusing to deal with the application in its entirety, or

(b)  the agency decided the application by deciding that none of the information applied for is held by the agency, or

(c)  the access applicant’s entitlement to access lapsed without that access being provided (including as a result of failure to pay any processing charge payable).

(3)  A restraint order may be made to apply to all access applications made by the person the subject of the order or may be limited by reference to particular kinds of information or particular agencies.

(4)  A person who is subject to a restraint order cannot apply to the ADT for approval to the making of an access application by the person without first serving notice of the application for approval on the agency concerned and the Information Commissioner.

(5)  An application for a restraint order against a person may be made by an agency that receives an access application from the person (whether or not the agency has decided the application) or by the Minister or the Information Commissioner.

(6)  The ADT may order that a person who is the subject of a restraint order is not permitted to apply to the ADT for approval to make an access application if the ADT is satisfied that the person has repeatedly made applications for approval that are lacking in substance.

(7)  While a restraint order is in force against a person, any application for government information made to an agency in contravention of the order is not a valid access application.