Are round robin requests vexatious?

The fact that a requester has submitted identical or very similar requests to a number of other public authorities is not, in itself, enough to make the request vexatious. It is important to bear in mind that these ‘round robin’ requests often have a value and serious purpose.

For example, a request directed to several public authorities in the same sector could have significant value if it has the potential to reveal important comparative information about that sector, once the information is combined.

Nevertheless, if you believe the round robin to have little discernible value and purpose, or that it would be likely to cause a disproportionate or unjustified level disruption, irritation, or distress, then you may take this into account when considering if the request is vexatious.

You can include evidence from other authorities that received the round robin when considering the overall context and history of the request. However, any burden must only be on the authority which received the request. Therefore, when determining the impact of a round robin, you may only take into account any disruption, irritation or distress your organisation would suffer itself. You cannot cite the impact on the public sector as a whole as evidence that the request is vexatious.