WHEN the Freedom of Information Act was threatened by a Government review in November 2015, the Oxford Mail stood up and campaigned to save it.

The Act is a vital tool for local journalism, and beyond, to ensure powerful organisations are transparent and where necessary, are held to account.

During Local Newspaper Week the Oxford Mail is celebrating being at the heart of the community as a voice for its readers.

But we also hope to highlight the role of the Freedom of Information Acts in allowing us to provide informed, trusted and newsworthy content that readers may otherwise not have known.

A proven example of its powerful importance is the battle over the multi-million pound West Way redevelopment in Botley.

Campaigner Mary Gill featured in the Oxford Mail after she won a two-year FoI battle against her council regarding the development of the shopping centre.

She eventually persuaded a judge to order Vale of White Horse District Council to stop keeping secrets about its controversial plans and various documents were released.

The Act demonstrates the very principle of what Local Newspaper Week is all about, local journalism providing its readers with details of what is being done in their name and what taxpayers' money is being spent on.

When the Westminster committee set out to review the Act, newspapers pulled together to protect its importance for journalism.

It came as a surprise to everyone when they went on to publish the recommendation saying that the Act should not be watered down.

Many people praised campaigners including the Oxford Mail for putting pressure on the commission and convincing members to keep the important piece of legislation.

The newspaper’s campaign was backed by Maurice Frankel who has worked for the Campaign for Freedom of Information since it was set up in 1984.

At the time he said the Act was a way of exposing wrongdoing and improving people’s lives.

He said: “A powerful illustration of the difference FoI can make came in 2010.

“A request revealed that 75 per cent of NHS trusts had failed to act on at least one official safety alert, designed to protect patients from dangerous drugs or equipment. A staggering 80 trusts had each failed to comply with 10 or more alerts.”

He added that follow-up requests showed in 2011 that most trusts had significantly improved performance.

In recent months the Oxford Mail has revealed the thousands of homes sitting empty in the county despite huge pressure amid the growing housing crisis.

Using an FoI request the Oxford Mail discovered the number of empty homes in each district as well as the longest-standing vacant home which had been sat empty for 27 years.

The article proved vital in putting pressure on authorities to act on the issue and most recently a move has been made for the possibility of using empty homes for shelters.

In November another FoI revealed the number of unsolved crimes in Oxfordshire.

The figures, released by Thames Valley Police, included a hit and run in Blackbird Leys as well as the rooftop raid at the Ashmolean Museum where its only Cézanne was stolen on Millennium Eve.