Policy on BNP membership

Adam Walker

[1][FOI #24342 email]

07 December 2009

Dear Mr Walker

Freedom of Information Request - Reference No: 20090627

Thank you for your request for information in relation to:

Your Force has a policy on membership of 'unacceptable'
organisations. This can be found at:-

http://www.southyorkshire.police.uk/foi/...
The policy states in part:- "For the purposes of this policy,
unacceptable organisations include: the British National Party,
Combat 18 and the National Front"

Please provide me with a full list of organisations which are
deemed 'unacceptable'.
Who is responsible for deciding which organisations are deemed
'unacceptable'?
What process and criteria is used to determine whether an
organisation is deemed 'unacceptable' or not?
Are organisations able to make representation to you in order to
seek to argue that they should not be deemed 'unacceptable' or that
particular restrictions are not necessary or proportionate?

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Yours sincerely,

Martha Robinson
Information Compliance Clerk
South Yorkshire Police
Information Compliance Unit
Professional Standards Department
Unit 20 Sheffield 35A Business Park
Churchill Way
Sheffield
S35 2PY

External T/N
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of your case under its review procedure (copy enclosed). If you decide to
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Adam Walker To FOI requests at South
<[FOI #24342 email]> Yorkshire Police
<[South Yorkshire Police request email]>
07/12/2009 11:16 cc
Subject Freedom of Information
request - Policy on BNP
membership

Dear Sirs

Your Force has a policy on membership of 'unacceptable'
organisations. This can be found at:-

http://www.southyorkshire.police.uk/foi/...

The policy states in part:- "For the purposes of this policy,
unacceptable organisations include: the British National Party,
Combat 18 and the National Front"

Please provide me with a full list of organisations which are
deemed 'unacceptable'.
Who is responsible for deciding which organisations are deemed
'unacceptable'?
What process and criteria is used to determine whether an
organisation is deemed 'unacceptable' or not?
Are organisations able to make representation to you in order to
seek to argue that they should not be deemed 'unacceptable' or that
particular restrictions are not necessary or proportionate?

Yours sincerely

Adam Walker

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15^TH December 2009

Mr A. Walker

[FOI #24342 email]

Dear Mr Walker,

Freedom of Information Request - Reference No: 20090627

Thank you for your request in relation to.

REQUEST

***Your Force has a policy on membership of 'unacceptable'
organisations. This can be found at:-

http://www.southyorkshire.police.uk/foi/...

The policy states in part:- "For the purposes of this policy,
unacceptable organisations include: the British National Party,
Combat 18 and the National Front"

1) Please provide me with a full list of organisations which
are
deemed 'unacceptable'.

2) Who is responsible for deciding which organisations are deemed
'unacceptable'?

3) What process and criteria is used to determine whether an
organisation is deemed 'unacceptable' or not?

4) Are organisations able to make representation to you in order to
seek to argue that they should not be deemed 'unacceptable' or that
particular restrictions are not necessary or proportionate?***

RESPONSE

1) The full list of organisations is listed in the policy i.e.
British National Party, Combat 18, National Front.

2) The organisations deemed unacceptable are dictated by Police
Regulations.

3) The criteria set down by National Police Regulations.

4) I am asked by the relevant Department within South Yorkshire
Police to bring to your attention the following extract from the
above-mentioned policy: -

'These constraints will be reviewed when necessary with regard to
organisations judged as unacceptable in the future. The purpose of
providing policy is to give an indication to staff of the expected course
of action. However it is not possible to cater for every possible
combination of factors that would justify a departure from stated policy.
The Human Rights Act 1998 requires the proper use of discretion at all
times and nothing within this policy and associated procedural
instructions prohibits the proper use of discretion in appropriate'
circumstances.***

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request a review by following the advice contained in the
separate notice attached to this correspondence:

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint,
you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
The Information Commissioner's Office,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Telephone: 08456 306060 or 01625 545745
Website: www.ico.gov.uk
There is no charge for making an appeal.

Yours sincerely

Philip Crick
Information Compliance Clerk
South Yorkshire Police
Information Compliance Unit
Professional Standards Department
Unit 20 Sheffield 35A Business Park
Churchill Way
Sheffield
S35 2PY

Email - [South Yorkshire Police request email]

Please note that police forces in the United Kingdom are routinely
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this forces response to your questions should not be used for the
comparison purposes with any other response you may receive.

South Yorkshire Police provides you the right to request a re-examination
of your case under its review procedure (copy enclosed). If you decide to
request such a review and having followed the Constabulary***s full
process you are still dissatisfied, then you have the right to direct your
comments to the Information Commissioner who will give it consideration.

The South Yorkshire 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, South
Yorkshire Police, Police Headquarters, Snig Hill, Sheffield, S3 8LY.

CITIZEN FOCUS: Our commitment is to understand what the public want *** so
that we deliver what they need.

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