Common Purpose - Your Turn - criminal records checks

Dear Mr Walker

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2008110004021
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 17/11/2008. I note you seek
access to the following information:

* " 1. What is your policy and what systems do you have in place for
ensuring that people who train children on Common Purpose courses have
passed the necessary criminal records checks? "

* " 2. Please supply evidence/records that you have that Common Purpose
trainers who deal with children have passed the necessary criminal
records checks. "

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 the MPS may be unable to
achieve this deadline. If this is likely you will be informed and
given a revised time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

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.

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right
of complaint.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest
in the MPS.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me on the above email address quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

Emma Linney
Support Officer
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think
the decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your
request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again –

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is
to telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your
decision letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues
and assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision
of the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act)
regarding access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS
to have the decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within three months.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied
with the decision you may make application to the Information
Commissioner for a decision on whether the request for information has
been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information
Commissioner please visit their website at
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk. Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Walker

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2008110004021

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 17 November. I note you seek
access to the following information:

1. What is your policy and what systems do you have in place for
ensuring that people who train children on Common Purpose courses have
passed the necessary criminal records checks?
2. Please supply evidence/records that you have that Common
Purpose trainers who deal with children have passed the necessary criminal
records checks.

I am assuming, in the above questions, that you mean the appropriate
reviews and checks carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to
help employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors identify
candidates who may be unsuitable for certain types of employment
-especially work involving contact with children or other vulnerable
members of society.

The MPS does not discuss the terms of individual contracts with suppliers.
However the MPS standard contract terms compel our suppliers to ensure
their employees comply with all relevant legislation etc.

" The Supplier undertakes to comply with and to ensure that all
its employees, agents, representatives and sub-contractors ("Personnel")
comply with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice,
guidance notes and other requirements of any relevant government or
governmental agency, safety and security standards and site procedures and
codes of the MPA; any reasonable instructions and guidelines issued by the
MPA from time to time; and the MPA's requirements in relation to security
and background checks".

However as the training received by MPS Personnel from Common Purpose has,
as far as we can ascertain, not involved children or vulnerable adults,
the provision of appropriate Criminal Record Bureau checks would obviously
not be a factor for the MPS contractually.

If you wish to enquire whether the MPS has been requested to provide
information with regard to individuals employed by Common Purpose as part
of an appropriate check carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau, it is
the MPS' policy to not divulge such information. If this is the case I
would suggest you contact the Criminal Records Bureau directly through the
CRB Information Line on 0870 9090844 or through the following link
Criminal Records Bureau - Home Page (www.crb.gov.uk)

Yours sincerely

Chris Gibson
Supplier Performance Director
Procurement Services

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

DECISION

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights, which explains how to make a complaint.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
the MPS.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me on 0207 161 1508 or at the address at the top of this letter,
quoting the reference number above.

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again -

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is to
telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your decision
letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues and
assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

Public Access Office
New Scotland Yard
Broadway
London
SW1H 0BG

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within three months.

The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

show quoted sections