Mr John Brown
Via email to:
mailto:[FOI #8159 email]
Our Reference: 46535
17th February 2009
Dear Mr Brown,
I am writing with reference to your request for information regarding access to PNC
records by the ACPO Criminal Records Office made under section 1(1) of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.
You asked for the following information:
(1) Electronic copies of any correspondence relating to the establishment of the
ACRO ‘service’.
(2) What legal authority (including reference to the relevant legislation) does NPIA
have to sell/provide PNC data to ACRO for resale.
(3) Electronic copies of any submission to Ministers and subsequent approval for
the purchase/resale of PNC data.
(4) What control does NPIA have over the charges levied by ACRO and the level of
profit achieved.
Our responses are as follows:
(1)
NPIA doe not hold information on how ACRO was established and believe
that this would be best directed to ACPO (Association of Chief Police
Officers).
(2)
Each force Chief Constable owns the information they put onto PNC for
their force area. ACPO as a body represents all 44 individual forces in
England & Wales and Northern Ireland, and therefore is the
representative owner of all PNC records. The NPIA manages the PNC
equipment and makes this information available, but does not own the
National Policing Improvement Agency
actual data. ACRO, as part of ACPO can, and does, have access to all PNC
records for the policing work that it provides to forces and other agencies.
Its Police Certificates business is charged in a similar manner to other
agencies that use PNC data for vetting purposes. This was done to ensure
no unfair advantage was provided to any one agency or department.
(3)
The authority that governs the NPIA's ability to charge other government
departments comes from within the Managing Public Money guidelines
from the Treasury. It states under Fees, Charges & Levies (Section
6.2.10) the following instructions;
"Charges within and among central government organisations should be
made at full cost, including the standard cost of capital. To charge
otherwise would risk creating unwarranted subsidies or distorting
competition."
(4)
NPIA has no control over any charges levied by ACRO and the level of
profit achieved.
Your right to complain
We take our responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act seriously but, if
you feel your request has not been properly handled or you are otherwise
dissatisfied with the outcome of your request, you have the right to complain. We
will investigate the matter and endeavour to reply within 3 – 6 weeks. You should
write to:
Gavin McKinnon
Head of Secretariat
National Policing Improvement Agency
10-18 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0NN
E-mail:
[email address]
If you are still dissatisfied following our internal review, you have the right, under
section 50 of the Act, to complain directly to the Information Commissioner. Before
considering your complaint, the Information Commissioner would normally expect
© NPIA (National Policing Improvement Agency) 2007
National Policing Improvement Agency
you to have exhausted the complaints procedures provided by the NPIA.
The
Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
FOI Compliance Team (complaints)
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Further information about the NPIA is routinely published on our website at
www.npia.police.uk or through our publication scheme. If you require any further
assistance in connection with this request please contact us at our address above.
Yours sincerely,
Phil Cundy
Service Improvement Manager
National Policing Improvement Agency
Email:
[email address]
Web:
www.npia.police.uk
© NPIA (National Policing Improvement Agency) 2007
