Ms Angela Berrington

Information Services Officer

Corporate Development Department 'M' Division

Headquarters, Woburn Road

Kempston, Bedford, MK43 9AX

Telephone: (01234) 842213

Fax: (01234) 842133

Email: [email address]

Our Ref: AFB/2009125

Mr W Old 11 February 2009

[email address]

Dear Mr Old

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT Reference No F-2009-125

With reference to your request for information received on 9 February 2009, I note you seek access to the following information:

(a) any force policy or procedure document from which it would be determined whether such an officer's salary would take account of that previous period in the higher rank - in accordance with Reg.24(2) - or would alternatively be re-started back at the lowest salary scale point for the higher rank, at the commencement of each and every period of service in that higher rank; and...

(b) any force policy or procedure document that reported, considered or reviewed the implications of the decision in Gill v Chief Constable of Merseyside [Liverpool County Court, judgement given on 28 August 2007], in which unequivocal judgement was given against Merseyside Police by HH Judge Platts because the latter procedure (as referred to above) is unlawful and does not comply with Regulation 24(2).

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act.) You will receive a response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third party. In some circumstances Bedfordshire Police may be unable to achieve this deadline. If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised timescale at the earliest opportunity.

There may be a fee payable for the retrieval, collation and provision of the information you request. If this is the case you will be informed and the 20 working day timescale will be suspended until we receive payment from you. If you chose not to make payment then your request will remain unanswered. Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Bedfordshire Police. Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter please do not hesitate to contact me quoting the above reference number.

Yours sincerely

Ms Angela Berrington

Information Services Officer