Briffa asks for email deletion becuase FOIA is a "time sink" and an "inconvenient subsequent distraction"

0058.txt

date: Thu Oct  9 17:56:17 2008

from: Keith Briffa <k.briffa@uea.xxxx>

subject: Re: Tom Giverin – IN STRICT CONFIDENCE

to: “Toumi, Ralf” <r.toumi@imperial.xxxx>

Ralf

[[[redacted: reference]]]

Finally, might I ask that you note and then erase this email. I have found that recent enquiries under the Freedom of Information Act, or Data Protection Act, can become considerable time sinks , or the basis of some inconvenient subsequent distractions.

   with best wishes

   Keith

At 12:38 09/10/2008, you wrote:

Dear Keith,

Tom has applied to do a PhD with me (probably mesoscale modelling). Could you please

give me a reference for him. In particular I would be interested to know  if you would

take him in your group (and why you think he is  still available; which is good for

me…, but I  always worry at this time of year).

Best wishes,

Ralf

Professor Ralf Toumi

Department of Physics

Imperial College

London SW7 2AZ

UK

Rm. H713 (Huxley Building)

Telephone: + 44 (0) 207 594 7668

Fax: + 44 (0) 207 594 7900

email: [1]r.toumi@imperial.xxxx

Web: [2]http://www.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~rtoumi/

Professor Keith Briffa,

Climatic Research Unit

University of East Anglia

Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K.

Phone: +44-1603-xxxxx

Fax: +44-1603-xxxxx

[3]http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/people/briffa/

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ChE
November 26, 2011 7:54 am

What is this “delete” thing you speak of? Is it anything like Excel?

Mann Bearpig
November 26, 2011 9:50 am

The FOIA statue of limitations act have a 2 year limit – I am not sure, however this email is encouraging people to break the law – this is not covered under FOIA but probably comes under the civil evidence act 1995 or similar laws.

Alistair Pope
November 26, 2011 8:04 pm

This is not just a simple criminal offence that deserves a small fine and taliking to by a magistrate. This is a large-scale fraud that has (and continues to) extract huge sums of money from the taxpayers public purse
A long-term custodial sentence is required

michael
December 1, 2011 8:13 pm

Professor Ralf Toumi’s grammar is rather basic for a PhD professor..

Brian H
December 11, 2011 2:02 am

Edit the headline:
just “becuase”.
_______
If it’s true that the UK FOI law blocks access to server and archive records if it is deemed that the email originator and recipient chose to delete their copies, then perhaps one can excuse the persistent apparent ignorance of Keith et pals.