WEST MERCIA PCC: DISCLOSURE LOG
RESPONSE TO REQUEST
Reference: 2022 – 281 / WE5543
Date of response: 11th February 2022
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – INFORMATION REQUEST
Request
Further to my own investigations, as a body subject to FOI, I am now making a request for information under FOI for:
- All reports in the last three years prepared or considered by West Mercia OPCC on the Review System, the transition from the complaints system, and the effectiveness of the review system for improving the performance and operations of West Mercia Police.
- All data on the number of reviews into West Mercia Police’s complaints handling undertaken by year over the last three years; the number that have been upheld; the number not upheld; and the number of recommendations and observations made for each type of review determination.
- Any reports prepared that consider the recommendations and lesson learning from the review system – either made by OPCC or received from West Mercia Police in response to your determinations.
Response
Please see the below response to your requests.
Request 1
A list of reports disclosed to you by the OPCC is set out below and is attached to the email:
- Complaint reviews feedback – West Mercia Police
- Complaint reviews feedback – Sancus
- OPCC Briefing Key Changes to the Conduct and Complaints Regulations
- Delivery of Complaint Appeal Functions through Collaborations
- Regional Governance Group Regional Complaints Manager Report
- Regional Review Model – ICT Options Paper
- Regional Centurion Solution – Outline Business Case
- APCC Police Integrity Reforms Briefing
- APCC Communicators Workshop: Complaints and Conduct System Reform
- IOPC Review Practitioner Workshop: Common Questions
- IOPC Review Practitioner Workshop Report
- IOPC Pre-Decision Questions about Reviews
- IOPC Report: Use of the new power to recommend remedies
- IOPC Minimum Requirements for Police Complaints Data
Disclosure of the below documents has been refused under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). These documents are exempt from disclosure under Section 21 of the FOIA (Information is reasonably available to the applicant by other means). Where this is the case, we have signposted you to where you can find these documents online:
- Record of Decision: Complaint Review Changes: 15-Record-of-Decision-Complaint-Review-Changes.pdf (westmercia-pcc.gov.uk)
- West Mercia PCC Assessment of Complaint Handling: SIO-report_Complaints-handling_DEC21_FINAL-DRAFT.pdf (westmercia-pcc.gov.uk)
- West Mercia Joint Audit and Standards Committee Standards Update: Joint Audit and Standards Committee – West Mercia Police Crime Commissioner (westmercia-pcc.gov.uk)
- IOPC How to Make a Complaint: IOPC_A_guide_to_complaint_system_2020.pdf (policeconduct.gov.uk)
- IOPC Statutory Guidance; Guidance on Data Capture; New Operational Advice on 12 Month Reports: Guidance_on_capturing_data_about_police_complaints_Jan2021.pdf (policeconduct.gov.uk)
- IOPC Focus Guidance Reports: Focus | Independent Office for Police Conduct
- IOPC West Mercia Police Complaints Performance Bulletin: West Mercia Police | Independent Office for Police Conduct
- Home Office Guidance: Conduct, Efficiency and Effectiveness: Statutory Guidance on Professional Standards, Performance and Integrity in Policing: Home_Office_Statutory_Guidance_0502.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Request 2
Please see data below.
| Time Period | No. of reviews completed | No. upheld | No. of upheld cases with recommendations | No. of upheld cases with oversight | No. not upheld | No. of not upheld cases with recommendations | No. of not upheld cases with oversight |
| 01/01/2020-31/03/2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 01/04/2020-31/03/2021 | 90 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 77 | 3 | 5 |
| 01/04/2021-02/03/2022 | 77 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 66 | 0 | 3 |
Data caveats:
- The PCC became the relevant review body from 01/02/2020.
- As set out in the Police Reform Act 2002, review bodies may make recommendations where a review has determined an outcome is not reasonable and proportionate (i.e. review upheld).
Request 3
Your request under the FOIA is refused. It is exempt from disclosure under FOIA Section
40 (Personal Information). The only reports held by the Office relate to specific
recommendations and lesson learning from individual complaint reviews submitted by
members of the public. This is classed as personal data and disclosure of this information
under FOIA would contravene data protection principles listed in Article 5 of the UK GDPR.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write to the
Information Compliance Unit; Information Compliance Unit, PO Box 55, Worcester, WR3
8SP. Email: [email protected]
Yours sincerely,
FOI Officer
West Mercia PCC
Complaints
If you think that the Police and Crime Commissioner has failed to supply information in accordance with the publication scheme, then you should write in the first instance, to the:
Chief Executive, OPCC – West Mercia, Hindlip Hall, Worcester. WR3 8SP
The PCC will aim to deal with your complaint within 10 working days. If you are dissatisfied with the response you can ask for the matter to be internally reviewed. Internal reviews will be completed promptly and a response given to you within 20 working days of your further request.
If, after the internal review, you remain dissatisfied, then you can complain to the Information Commissioner (Office of the Information Commissioner), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF).
