Update on Britain's UFO Files

[Andy]

The thing is, do we really believe that despite freedom of information we are going to get everything? I really don't think so. Files can mysteriously go missing, shredded etc, or tucked away in a very secure place, even bigger than the MOD. Despite freedom of information i always feel we'll only still get to hear what we're wanted to hear and read about.

[Observer]

Andy

You are quite right, when the FOIA was just 2 months away from being on the statute books, all departments in the Police where i worked had a huge shredding purge of sensitive material. It took several weeks to get through. I think you will find that this happened in all government departments.

Obs

[Deep Purple]

There are many exemptions in FOIA. Obs is quite right anything sensitive would not be disclosed. At a first level you would simply not know which department to apply to, and the civil servants at lower levels would not even have access to anything really sensitive. All civil servants to my knowledge have signed the Offical Secrets Act and they would be fairly timid about putting their neck, freedom and pension on the block by speaking out. Also speaking out would subject them to smear and ridicule.
You have to think if files on Rendlesham and other UFO events are only being released now, why did they need to be hidden from us in the first place? What was the need for secrecy at the time?
I do think goverments stage manage the UFO business in that they use UFo Myth as a cover for secret aircraft/ technology, then try and distance themselves from it by releasing info that says we've got it all wrong years afterwards so many people are very confused about the whole issue. I do even suspect this forum has been infiltrated by some people seeking to play this game on behalf of goverments-- but this is a personal opinion and not meant to offend forum members, but perhaps they should be aware that they to could be being manipulated. I do not beleive after many years of study in UFOs that they are "Alien" ie from another planet but do stand to be corrected on this. If I see the right proof I would change my stance

[Observer]

Most destruction of files that i was involved with in the Police pre the FOIA was [and i was not privvy to most] was because they were either very sensitive or contained accounts [Money spent] that was not in their interest for the public to know. Most was in case the media found out.

Some files contained peoples names and or other files could reveal operational reports that would be too sensitive or might jeopardise protocols. Many of these files would not be destroyed but would remain unavailable. They had a classification system for revelation.

I strongly suspect that all government departments run a similar system.
Believe it or not GB is a far more secret society than the USA is and we are much better at holding secrets for longer periods, hence the 30 year rule and other time rulings. For example, Shingle Street originally had a 30 year rule but this was continually extended to the point that i now don't know how long it is.
I aggree with most of deep purple's comments and we must remember that Britain has its own black projects that require a 'no comment' response and will have 'D' notice status.
I'm not too sure to what lengths a Gov Dep might go in the dissinformation stakes but it would be done on a cost/effective basis.
I'm sure this forum is monitored by the authorities to see if we as a group get too close for comfort, and i'l put money on it that we have.

Some thing on this forum some time back triggered an interest from the US and we should be looking at what that may have been.