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DocumentDate: 16 February 2007

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STARTDOCUMENT:

4 March 2009

Information Rights Team, Information Management Group

Old Admiralty Building

London

SW1A 2PA

e-mail: [email address]

John Brown

Letter by e-mail: [FOI #8165 email]

Dear Mr Brown,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST - REF: 0130-09

I refer to your request under the above legislation dated 16 February 2009. You requested information on:

(a) please provide electronic copies of any correspondence

regarding the creation of this service by ACPO;

(b) were Ministers consulted on the provision of this service by

ACPO and if so why was the provision of the service by ACPO

preferred over the delivery of the service by the CRB which already

handles disclosure requests within the UK;

(c) Does the FCO consider it reasonable and legally acceptable for

a private limited company to be accessing official UK police

records to provide the 'Police Certificates' for use by officials

in Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America;

(d) What is the legal status of the 'Police Certificates' issued by

ACRO and what liability does the UK Government have for any

information incorrectly supplied (or withheld).

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, the information you have requested is not held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

However, you may wish to approach the Home Office for the above information. Should you wish to submit a freedom of information request to the Home Office, please e-mail them at: [email address].

While the Home Office holds the policy line on policing matters including the relationship with ACPO, in suggesting that a request be made to the Home Office, we are not guaranteeing that they will hold information relevant to your request or that information will be released as some of it may be covered by exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the

reference number above in any future communications.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint, or request a review of our decision, you should write to me at the above address. You have 40 working days to do so from the date of our response.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely,

Tan

Tanweer Hussain

Information Rights Team

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