Regulation 24(2) Police Regulations 2003

Dear Sir or Madam,

At:

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/re...

... you will find details of an unsuccessful Freedom of Information
Act request to Bedfordshire Police, which is one of only 6 forces
in England & Wales that still does not comply with Regulation 24(2)
of the Police Regulations 2003, despite the ruling in Gill v Chief
Constable of Merseyside (details of that case are shown in the
above request). In 2007, 11 forces (including the Metropolitan
Police) were non-compliant - since the Gill case, the Met (and,
obviously, four other forces) have reversed their non-compliant
policies accordingly.

I do not understand why Bedfordshire is still non-compliant, given
that proceedings were commenced against the force in March 2007 by
Federation solicitors acting for a sergeant who was affected by the
force's non-compliance. In July 2007, the force requested a stay of
those proceedings pending an out-of-Court settlement, because of
new legal advice.

Notwithstanding this, the force has not altered its policy on Reg.
24(2), and refuses to disclose it under FoI, claiming a S.22
exemption.

I am therefore requesting from you the following:
All non-legally-privileged papers held by the Authority relating to
the proceedings commenced against the force under Reg.24(2) as
described above, suitably redacted if necessary to prevent any
exemption from disclosure under S.40 (personal information),
including the cost to the force and/or the Authority of the case
and settlement, and legal costs.

Yours faithfully,

William Old

Dear Wardell Janet,

The force is claiming a S.22 exemption, which will be challenged as
they state they are awaiting new Home Office advice - but a FoI
request to Home Office reveals that no such advice is imminent. An
appeal is therefore being made to the Information Commissioner.

See:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/re...

and the Home Office response:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/an...

Yours sincerely,

William Old