Direct Communications Unit

2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

Switchboard 020 7035 4848 Fax: 020 7035 4745 Textphone: 020 7035 4742

E-mail: [Home Office request email] Website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

[FOI #4953 email]

Mr Paul Perrin

Paul Perrin

Reference T26204/8

19 January 2009

Dear Mr Perrin

Thank you for your email of the 18 December 2008 regarding the Home Secretary's statement on election to police authorities.

We believe the information that you have asked for is already reasonably accessible to you. The article to which you refer in your email sets out the reasons for the Home Secretary's decision, and there are no documents which sets out her reasons beyond those stated in the article.

Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act exempts the Home Office from complying with the duty to supply you with this information on the grounds that it is already in the public domain. Should you have difficulties in accessing this information by the means listed above please do not hesitate to contact me again.

If you are dissatisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review of our handling of your request by submitting your complaint within two months to the below address quoting reference 10917 :

Information Rights Team

Information and Record Management Service

Home Office

4^TH Floor, Seacole Building

2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

Email: [email address]

During the independent review the department's handling of your information request will be reassessed by staff who were not involved in providing you with this response. Should you remain dissatisfied after this internal review, you will have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act.

Yours sincerely

Duncan Mitchell