1st February 2010 
 
 
 
Adrian Rutherford 
Freedom of Information Unit  
 
2nd Floor 
 
Royal Mail Sheffield 
[FOI #25293 email] 
Pond Street 
 
Sheffield 
 
S98 6HR 
 
 
 
[Royal Mail Group request email] 
 
www.royalmail.com 
Dear Mr. Rutherford 
 
Re: Freedom of Information Request 
 
I am writing in response to your request for information dated 1st January 2010.  We have 
considered your request under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. You 
requested the following information: 
 
“Please provide details of all disciplinary action taken against Royal Mail employees in 
Northern Ireland in each of the last three years (2007-2009). For each incident, please 
provide: 
 
1. The date 
2. The town/city/location where the employee was based 
3. The employee’s position (i.e. manager, postman etc) 
4. Details of the offence/misconduct 
5. What punishment/action was taken 
6. Where an employee was suspended, detail for how long, and how much was he/she paid 
while on suspension?” 
 
In response to your request for details of disciplinary action in Northern Ireland, I can 
confirm that relevant information is recorded in our Human Resources records.  However, 
we consider this information to be personal data which is exempt from disclosure under 
section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act.  Royal Mail employees to who this 
information relates would have no expectation that this information would be disclosed into 
the public domain.  We therefore believe that disclosing such information would breach the 
principle of fair and lawful processing and such disclosure would not be justifiable.  Section 
40 is an absolute exemption in this respect and the public interest test does not apply.   
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ. 
 
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2010– Page 1 of 2 
 

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Cont… 
 
 
I am sorry that I cannot provide the information you have requested in this instance.  If you 
are not satisfied with this response, you do have the right to request an internal review of 
the request.  If you wish to do so please set out in writing your grounds of appeal and send 
to The Head of Information Compliance, Royal Mail Group, Company Secretary's Office, 100 
Victoria Embankment, LONDON, EC4Y 0HQ.  An internal panel will then review the decision, 
and you will be advised of the outcome. 
 
If you decide to appeal and are stil  not satisfied with our response you also have a right to 
appeal to the Information Commissioner at: 
 
Information Commissioner’s Office 
Wycliffe House 
Water Lane 
Wilmslow 
Cheshire 
SK9 5AF 
Telephone: 01625 545 700 
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
Daniel Tulp 
Freedom of Information Case Officer 
[Royal Mail Group request email] 
  
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ. 
 
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2010– Page 2 of 2 
 

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