FAQ Details
Establishment Figures - 759/11
Dated: 07 Jun 2011
Date of request: 29/09/2011
Date of response: 14/10/2011
Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')(FOIA)
Thank you for your email dated 29 September 2011 in which you made a request for access to certain information which may be held by Northumbria Police.
As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of access to information held by a Public Authority (including the Police), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.
You asked:
How many warranted police officers work in the IT departments accross the board at Northumbria Police?
How many warranted police officers work in the Human Resources departments accross the board at Northumbria Police?
Is there a race relations/equality department, or something similar? Sorry to be so vague on this one.
If so, what is it called (if only 1 exists) and how many staff does it employ?
How much paperwork does a police officer have to fill in with each arrest? Regardless of conviction. On average, how long does it take to fill in each form?
5.1. If you need an example for this one, how long would it take to fill in the necessary paperwork after an arrest for spraying graffiti on the wall?What is the overall number of employees employed by Northumbria police? How many of these employees are trained to be a police officer, on the beat?
How many officers are out on the beat at any one time? If there is not an average, then the lowest and highest amount for the last year would be great please.
How has the number of warranted officers (those who are trained to be a PC) changed over the last 10years?
How has the number of people employed in general by Northumbria Police changed over the last 10years?
In response:
We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request and I provide a response for your attention.
Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted with the ICT, HR and Corporate Development Departments of Northumbria Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held, in part, by Northumbria Police.
I have decided to disclose the located information to you as follows.
No warranted police officers work in the ICT department.
No warranted police officers work in the HR department.
There is not a dedicated race relations/equality department. Responsibilities for equality and diversity issues are subsumed into all roles with strategic leadership provided by corporate departmental leads including Human Resources, Corporate Development and Communications.
N/A
No information held. With regards to the "average time taken to complete each form", this information is not held, as there are too many factors which can influence the time it may take an officer to complete a file of evidence and in fact each of the necessary pages. For example, the circumstances surrounding an alleged offence, the number of offenders and witnesses, the offending history of the offenders, are the offenders juveniles or adults, is the victim vulnerable, is the crime motivated by hate or prejudice, is there forensic evidence, are there other offences to be taken into consideration, is there an application for compensation, etc.
There are 6537.61 full time equivalent (FTE) employees with 4102.40 FTE officers, all of who are capable of beat duties.
Data surrounding this part of your request will not be provided, and by withholding we rely on the following exemption:
Section 31(1)(a)(b) Law Enforcement
(1) Information which is not exempt information by virtue of Section 30 is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to prejudice -
(a) the prevention or detection of crime
(b) the apprehension or prosecution of offenders
This notice acts as a refusal notice under the provisions of Section 17(1) of the Freedom of information Act 2000. By virtue of the listed exemption.
Section 31(1) is a prejudice and qualified based exemption, therefore, there is a requirement to articulate the harm disclosure would cause and also requires the public interest to be considered.
Harm in Disclosure
To produce the number of officers on patrol at any one time would disclose the capability and capacity of Northumbria Police to undertake policing duties. This would in turn provide useful tactical information to those who choose to indulge in unlawful activity. By mapping the officer number and capabilities of the force a clear picture can be produced showing where/when resources may be low, therefore enforcement tactics could be compromised which could hinder the prevention and detection of crime. More crime could be committed and individuals placed at risk.
Factors Favouring Disclosure
Accountability
The disclosure of the figures will show the capability of the force and its officers.
Public Debate
The information will aid the accuracy of any public debate on whether public money is being invested appropriately and in line with public opinion.
Factors favouring Non-Disclosure
Efficient and Effective Conduct of the Force
Disclosure is likely to compromise the law enforcement capability of the force. Resource information can give an advantage to someone looking to exploit any potential weaknesses in a forces tactical planning. Any increased activity as a result of that either real or perceived weakness will mean the diversion of other resources or a reduction in the capability of the force.
Public Safety
Any disclosure which may increase the risk of harm being caused in the public arena is not desirable
Balance
There is a requirement in any public interest test to balance the factors favouring disclosure with those against. The police service is already held to account on how it uses its resources, on behalf of the public, by Police Authorities and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. Those processes are effective and long standing and are not enhanced by any disclosure in this case. The public entrust the Police to make appropriate decisions with regard to their protection, and the only way of reducing the risk is to be ultra cautious. At this time, it is undesirable to provide the number of resourches available to the force, there is a very strong public interest in safeguarding both policing capabilities and the integrity of police investigations.The total number of PCs is provided below. All Figures are FTE and are at 31st March each year.
Please note - these figures are not available prior to 2002
2011 3232.46
2010 3313.62
2009 3216.10
2008 3091.52
2007 3081.60
2006 3182.62
2005 3236.42
2004 3290.81
2003 3189.96All Figures are FTE and include Police Staff and are at 31st March each year.
Please note - these figures are not available prior to 2002
2011 6537.61
2010 6724.64
2009 6604.49
2008 6260.91
2007 6103.83
2006 6018.62
2005 5812.47
2004 5662.88
2003 5534.03
The information we have supplied to you is likely to contain intellectual property rights of Northumbria Police. Your use of the information must be strictly in accordance with the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) or such other applicable legislation. In particular, you must not re-use this information for any commercial purpose.
How to complain
If you are unhappy with our decision or do not consider that we have handled your request properly and we are unable to resolve this issue informally, you are entitled to make a formal complaint to us under our complaints procedure which can be found at: http://www.northumbria.police.uk/foi/disclosurelog/foicomprights.asp
If you are still unhappy after we have investigated your complaint and reported to you the outcome, you may complain directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office and request that they investigate to ascertain whether we have dealt with your request in accordance with the Act.