Dear Sir or Madam,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Could you please answer the following questions:

1) The number of serving Metropolitan Police Officers who are
currently employed with a 'long term disability' as defined by the
Disability Discrimination Act?

2) How many of those officers identified as having a long term
disability are employed in 'front line' public facing roles and how
many of those are 'desk bound' or in non public facing roles?

3) Could you supply a break down of the number of those officers
who have a long term disability into either physical or
psychological disabilities?

4) How many people were recruited as Police officers into the
Metropolitan Police Service since January 2007 who have long term
disabilities as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act?

Yours faithfully,

Christopher John

Dear Mr John

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009010006471
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 26/01/2009. I note you seek
access to the following information:

* " 1) The number of serving Metropolitan Police Officers who are
currently employed with a 'long term disability' as defined by the
Disability Discrimination Act?
* 2) How many of those officers identified as having a long term
disability are employed in 'front line' public facing roles and how
many of those are 'desk bound' or in non public facing roles?
* 3) Could you supply a break down of the number of those officers who
have a long term disability into either physical or psychological
disabilities?
* 4) How many people were recruited as Police officers into the
Metropolitan Police Service since January 2007 who have long term
disabilities as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act? "

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.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

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

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 40 working days.
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 Sir or Madam,

I am still awaiting a further response to my original Freedom of
Information request sent on 26th January 2008.

Your internal reference number is: 2009010006471.

Please indicate a likely timescale of when I will receive the
information requested.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher John

Dear Mr John,

Apologies for the delay in responding to your email.

I have contacted the department dealing with your request and unfortunately the person who will be responding to you is currently absent due to sickness. I am told he should return on Monday so I will contact him then and respond to you a.s.a.p.

May I apologise again for any inconvenience this delay has caused you and thank you for your patience.

Regards

Emma Linney | Policy & Support Officer
Public Access Office | Directorate of Information
Metropolitan Police Service

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Dear Ms Linney,

Thank you for explaining the delay in providing the information
requested.

I look forward to receiving the information once you colleague
returns to work next week.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher John

Dear Sir or Madam,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009010006471

Unfortunately I am still waiting for the information requested and
must now ask you to give me a firm indication of when the
information will be provided.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher John

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of
Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Metropolitan Police
Service (MPS)'s handling of my FOI request 'Police Officers with
long term disabilities'.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/po...

Yours sincerely,

Christopher John

Dear Mr John

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009030007462

I write in connection with your letter requesting that the Metropolitan
Police Service (MPS) review its handling of your request:

* Original FOIA request: 2009010006471.

The review will be conducted in accordance to the MPS's complaints
procedure. The MPS endeavour to respond to your complaint by 27 May 2009.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me on telephone number 020 7161 3527 or at the address at the top
of the letter quoting the reference number above.

Thank you for your interest in the MPS.

Yours sincerely

Shannon Aldridge
Quality and Assurance Advisor

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 40 working days.
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 John

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009030007462
Further to our letter of 26 March 2009, I have unfortunately been unable
to meet the response time provided to you in relation to:

* FOI original case number 2009010006471

I hope to complete your review no later than 18 June 2009. Should there be
any unforeseen delay, I will contact you and update you as soon as
possible.
Again I do sincerely apologise for the delay, and thank you for your
patience.
COMPLAINT RIGHTS
If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights which explains how to contact the Information
Commissioner with your complaint.
Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely

S. Pallen
FOI Policy Review and Complaints 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 40 working days.
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. John,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009030007462

Further to our letter of 27 May 2009, I have unfortunately been unable to
meet the response time provided to you in relation to:

* FOI original case number 2009010006471

I hope to complete your review no later than 03 July 2009. Should there be
any unforeseen delay, I will contact you and update you as soon as
possible.

Again I do sincerely apologise for the delay, and thank you for your
patience.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights which explains how to contact the Information
Commissioner with your complaint.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

David Edwards
Freedom of Information Team

show quoted sections

Dear Mr John

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009010006471

I write in connection with your request for information, which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 26/01/2009. I note
you seek access to the following information:

QUESTION
1) The number of serving Metropolitan Police Officers who are currently
employed with a 'long term disability' as defined by the Disability
Discrimination Act?
2) How many of those officers identified as having a long term disability
are employed in 'front line' public facing roles and how many of those are
'desk bound' or in non public facing roles?
3) Could you supply a break down of the number of those officers who have
a long term disability into either physical or psychological disabilities?
4) How many people were recruited as Police officers into the Metropolitan
Police Service since January 2007 who have long term disabilities as
defined by the Disability Discrimination Act?

Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within the MPS
to locate information relevant to your request.

EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
within Human Resources.

RESULT OF SEARCHES

The searches located records relevant to your request.

DECISION

I have today decided to:

* Disclose records numbered 1,3 & 4 in full;
* Fully exempt records number 2 pursuant to the provisions of section 12
of the Act.

REASONS FOR DECISION

Section 17 of the Act provides:

(1) A public authority which, in relation to any request for
information, is to any extent relying on a claim that any provision in
part II relating to the duty to confirm or deny is relevant to the
request or on a claim that information is exempt information must,
within the time for complying with section 1(1), give the applicant a
notice which-

(a) states the fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question, and
(c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption
applies.

Section 12 of the Act provides:

Section 12: Exemption where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate
limit
(1) Section 1(1) does not oblige a public authority to comply with a
request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of
complying with the request would exceed the appropriate limit.
(2) Subsection (1) does not exempt the public authority from its
obligation to comply with paragraph (a) of section 1(1) unless the
estimated cost of complying with that paragraph alone would exceed the
appropriate limit.
(3) In subsections (1) and (2) ***the appropriate limit*** means such
amount as may be prescribed, and different amounts may be prescribed
in relation to different cases.
(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide that, in such
circumstances as may be prescribed, where two or more requests for
information are made to a public authority***
(a) by one person, or
(b) by different persons who appear to the public authority to be
acting in concert or in pursuance of a campaign,
the estimated cost of complying with any of the requests is to be
taken to be the estimated total cost of complying with all of them.
(5) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for the
purposes of this section as to the costs to be estimated and as to the
manner in which they are to be estimated.

We estimate that the cost of complying with question 2 would exceed
the appropriate limit of **450. The appropriate limit has been
specified in regulations and for agencies outside central Government;
this is set at **450.00. This represents the estimated cost of one
person spending 18 hours [at a rate of **25 per hour] in determining
whether the MPS holds the information, and locating, retrieving and
extracting the information. The Metropolitan Police Service does not
hold this information centrally, in order to answer your question, we
would need to obtain the 149 personnel files to identify what duties
the officer is performing.

Please find attached your copies of records numbered 1, 3 & 4.

1) The number of serving Metropolitan Police Officers who are
currently employed with a 'long term disability' as defined by the
Disability Discrimination Act?
A: This information is self-declared and therefore does not represent
the entire organisation.

As of the 22nd May 2009: Self Declared Disabled Police Officers
149 stated 'Yes'

3) Could you supply a break down of the number of those officers who
have a long term disability into either physical or psychological
disabilities?
A: This information is self-declared, and it is not mandatory for
individuals to disclose further detail once they have recorded that
they have a disability.

4) How many people were recruited as Police officers into the
Metropolitan Police Service since January 2007 who have long term
disabilities as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act?
A: This information is self-declared and is therefore not
representative of all officer recruits that joined the organisation
during this period.

Recruited between 1st January 2007 and 22nd May 2009:

Self Declared Disabled
60 stated 'Yes'

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

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

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me on 020 7161 0579 or at the address at the top of this
letter, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

James Dowman
FOI Manager/Analyst

In complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information,
the Metropolitan Police Service 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
MPS Directorate of Legal Services, 1st Floor (Victoria Block), New
Scotland Yard, Victoria, London, SW1H 0BG.
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 40 working days.
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. John,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009030007462

Further to our letter of 19 June 2009, I am now able to provide a response
to your complaint dated 26 March 2009 concerning:

* Review of FOIA 2009010006471

DECISION

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has completed its review and has
decided that incorrect procedure was followed in respect of your case.

REASON FOR DECISION

To conduct this review, I have consulted regularly with the Human
Resources department about your case, in order to expedite its conclusion.

I am aware that the response was originally due on 26 January 2009, albeit
the final response was not sent until 01 July 2009. This is clearly
unacceptable and for that I apologise.

In terms of the processing of your request and the MPS failing to respond
within the statutory time frame, there was indeed a breach of the Act.

Section 10 of the Act states that "subject to subsections (2) and (3), a
public authority must comply with section 1(1) promptly and in any event
not later than the twentieth working day following the date of receipt".

Section 17(2)(b) of the Act continues to say that if "the public authority
has not yet reached a decision as to the application of subsection (1)(b)
or (2)(b) of section 2, the notice under subsection (1) must indicate that
no decision as to the application of that provision has yet been reached
and must contain an estimate of the date by which the authority expects
that such a decision will have been reached".

I appreciate that in this instance there was a failure to comply within
the statutory deadline, or to provide you with an estimated date for a
full response. Accordingly I would like to take this opportunity to
apologise for the delays you have experienced and hope to reassure you
that the MPS take compliance with the Act very seriously and are working
hard to promote good practice in regard to the processing of requests.

The MPS is continually striving to ensure statutory deadlines are met and
enquiries are responded to as soon as possible. We are working towards
this goal whilst ensuring the operational policing needs of London are not
affected.

To ensure good practice, I have contacted and advised the Department
concerned that applicants should be updated in good time if there is a
possibility their request deadline will not be met for any reason.

I can confirm that in this instance we have breached section 10 by failing
to respond within the first twenty days, and have breached section
17(2)(b) by not sending you a refusal notice within the 20 working days to
inform you we could not comply by the statutory deadline.

I apologise again for any inconvenience caused by our failure to process
your request correctly.

I hope this will not deter you from making further requests in the future.

As you have now received a final response to your request, the MPS will
take no further action on this case review.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights which explains how to contact the Information
Commissioner with your complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me on 020 7161 3527 or at the address at the top of this letter,
quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

David Edwards
FOIA Quality and Assurance Advisor
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 40 working days.
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