Cost of new website development

Dear Mr Palmer

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: RFI2374/1

I write in connection with your request for information dated 22nd
February 2010 which was received on 23rd February 2010.

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 West Mercia Police 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.

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.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or telephone the Information Compliance Unit quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

Miss L MacKinnon

Information Compliance Assistant

Information Compliance Unit

Information Management and Technology Department
01905 331565

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Dear Mr Palmer

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: RFI 2374/1

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
on 23^rd February 2009. Please find below the response to your request:

I note that you recently redesigned and re-launched your website. Can you
please provide me with:
a) design and development costs to launch (single figure)
Reply: £48,640

b) ongoing hosting, licensing and maintenance costs (per year or other
suitable measure)
Reply: £450 per quarter

c) brief overview of server technologies used (e.g. Microsoft .NET,
Apache/PHP, etc.)
Reply: Please be advised that we do hold the information requested and
having considered this part of your request I am not obliged to supply the
information you have requested.

Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires West Mercia
Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information
is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states
that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that
would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

The information you have requested is exempt from disclosure under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000. The exemption applicable in this case is
as follows:

Section 31 (1) Law Enforcement

This is a qualified, prejudice-based exemption

Section 31 is a qualified exemption which means that in order to be able
to claim this exemption the public interest in maintaining the exemption
must outweigh the public interest in releasing the information. The harm
and the Public Interest Test (PIT) in disclosure is outlined below.

Evidence of harm
To release the server technologies used, to the world at large, would
place in the public domain information and knowledge that would be helpful
to someone wishing to maliciously attack the web server. The result of
such an attack would depend on the motivation and ability of the attacker.
In the past 12 months at least 2 forces have suffered attacks which have
resulted in the loss of their websites for an extended number of days, and
requiring considerable work and added investment to restore.

The result of an attack could vary from simple defacement, to unauthorised
amendment of text and data through to using the web site to plant malware,
which ultimately may be returned to the Force's own network. It is also
possible that the attackers could attempt a 'phishing scam' whereby an
apparently legitimate page is placed on the site which induces the visitor
to pass over personal information (credit card details etc) which are then
used for fraudulent purposes.

Such attacks would impact on the effective and efficient conduct of the
service. A vital line of communication would be adversely affected or
severed. The legal requirements under the Freedom of Information Act
publication scheme would be breached. Financial resources would have to be
deployed to investigate the attack, fix issues or in extreme circumstances
to change supplier. It would impact on the community, with a loss of
confidence and trust in the local Force's ability to protect its
information, raising questions regarding how secure is the information
supplied by the Public? Ultimately the prevention, detection and reduction
of crime would be affected.

Public Interest considerations favouring disclosure for Section 31
There are no benefits to the local communities of West Mercia by the
release of this data, although it may benefit yourself in your research.

Public Interest considerations favouring non-disclosure for Section 31

Release of this data would impact on the local communities in a number of
ways, which favour non - disclosure. Should the website be tampered with,
the impact on police resources, both financial and staff would be
considerable. It would reduce the effectiveness of information appeals
made by the force by removing a significant channel for their
dissemination and would remove significant channels for our crime
prevention messages. Currently the force advertises its vacancies solely
by the website - any loss of this facility would require additional
expense and may also reduce the number of applicants who now rely on the
website to notify them when jobs become available. By failing to publish
local policing events, actions and priorities, WMP would be in breach of
our Policing Pledge commitments.

Communication, prevention and detection of crime and the efficiency and
effectiveness of West Mercia Police could all suffer as a result of
disclosure.

Balance Test
Communication with our local communities and their engagement in the
prevention and detection of crime is core to policing. The Police Service
will not divulge information which could obstruct this.

Therefore, at this moment in time, it is our opinion that for the reasons
outlined in the balancing test the case for disclosure is not made out.

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

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or telephone the Information Compliance Unit quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

Mr B McDermott
Information Compliance Unit
Information Management and Technology Department
West Mercia Police
PO Box 55
Hindlip
Worcester
WR3 8SP

01905 331545 / 331565

West Mercia Police in complying with their statutory duty under sections 1
and 11 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed
information will not breach the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
However, the rights of the copyright owner of the enclosed information
will continue to be protected by law. Applications for the copyright
owner's written permission to reproduce any part of the attached
information should be addressed to The Force Solicitor, West Mercia Police
Headquarters, PO Box 55, Hindlip, Worcester, WR3 8SP.

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 West Mercia Police (WMP) to review their
decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the person 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 person named 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
WMP made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information, you can lodge a complaint with WMP to have the
decision reviewed. WMP must be notified of your intention to complain
within 2 months of the date of its response to your Freedom of Information
request. Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

West Mercia Police Headquarters
Information Management and Technology Department
Hindlip Hall
Hindlip
PO Box 55
Worcester
WR3 8SP

In all possible circumstances, WMP will aim to respond to your complaint
within 2 months.

The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with WMP 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 [1]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545700

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