The British National Party

Your Ref:
Our Ref:F-2009-02976

03 November, 2009

Dear Mr. Walker,

Thank you for your request for Information, received at this office on
03 November, 2009, in which you requested details of the following:

Members of this force affiliated/member of the BNP, Combat 18, and the
NF

Your request will now be considered and 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 Humberside 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 a 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.

We anticipate being able to provide you with the information that you
have requested on or before 01 December, 2009.

Should you need to discuss this further please do not hesitate to
contact the unit.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Waller
Information Compliance Officer
+44 (1482) 317096
Humberside Police
Corporate Development Branch
Information Compliance Unit
Police Headquarters
Priory Road
Kingston Upon Hull
HU5 5SF
Fax:+44 (1482) 317090

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Mr Walker

I am almost in a position to send the response to you. I am just waiting
to receive some more minutes from Chief Officers meetings were this
subject was discussed.

Do you want me to send what I have tomorrow, or can you wait a couple more
days and I will send you everything together?

Regards

Paul Waller
Information Compliance
Officer
Information Compliance Unit

* Humberside Police HQ, Priory Road, Hull, HU5 5SF
( Phone: 01482 317096 (ext 1396)
Ë [mobile number]
: E-mail:[email address]
P Help save paper - do you need to print this e-mail?

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Your Ref:
Our Ref:F-2009-02976

02 December, 2009

Dear Mr. Walker,

Thank you for your request for information dated 03 November, 2009
concerning Members of this force affiliated/member of the BNP, Combat
18, and the NF.

This is to inform you that all information relating to your request has
been collated and is attached.

1. Prior to 1st January 2005 had any members of your Police Force
been disciplined in connection with membership of:-
a) the British National Party;
b) Combat 18; or
c) the National Front

Please provide details of how many and the outcomes of such
disciplinary procedures if any.

No members of Humberside Police or its support staff have been
discliplined in connection with membership of any of the above
organisations prior to 1 January 2005

2. After 1st January 2005 have any members of your Police Force
been disciplined in connection with membership of:-
a) the British National Party;
b) Combat 18; or
c) the National Front

Please provide details of how many and the outcomes of such
disciplinary procedures if any.

No members of Humberside Police or its support staff have been
disciplined in connection with membership of any of the above
organisations post 1 January 2005

3. After 1st January 2005 did you review the Human Rights
implications of the restriction? Please supply minutes and other
documentation relating to such a review.

No information held.

4. The restriction relates to membership. Do you consider that
there is any restriction on a member of your Police Force:-
a) donating to the British National Party
b) subscribing to a British National Party publication
c) purchasing goods from the British National Party
d) signing a petition in favour of the British National Party
e) signing a nomination form for a British National Party candidate

Upon further consideration this is not a valid request under
section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act as your request is not
asking for recorded information. Myself or any member of the forces
personal views or considerations that are not recorded would not fall
under the remit of the Freedom of Information Act. However Humberside
Police openly promote a non racial, equal environment for all staff to
work and operate in irrespective of race, religion, colour or creed.
In line with ACPO Chief Constables Council 2004, we endorse the
following statement:

"No member of the police service, whether police officer or
police staff, maybe a member of an organisation whose constitution,
aims, objectives or pronouncements contradict the general duty to
promote race quality. This specifically includes the British National
Party." It added that, "in view of the importance on public
confidence of meeting the general duty to promote race equality
established in the Race Relations (Amendment Act) 2000, it is
anticipated that non-compliance will result in dismissal."

A similar statement is available for all Police and support
staff to see in the forces Practice Directions. Also, at every stage
throughout the application and interview process, applicants are made
aware of the forces stance on equality. Therefore, it would follow that
to be associated with organisations such as the groups mentioned in
your request is not appropriate or acceptable.

Should any further information be requested regarding this topic, a
separate request will need to be submitted.

If I can be of any further assistance on this matter please do not
hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Waller
Information Compliance Officer
+44 (1482) 317096
Humberside Police
Corporate Development Branch
Information Compliance Unit
Police Headquarters
Priory Road
Kingston Upon Hull
HU5 5SF
Fax:+44 (1482) 317090

Humberside Police - Freedom of Information Complaints Review Procedure

Why Have A Complaints Process?

Humberside Police is committed to delivering an open and transparent
service whenever possible and it is our intention to commit to the
principles of openness embodied in the Freedom of Information Act. We
will release information to the greatest extent possible, consistent
with the public interest, however we may withhold information if we
consider its release would cause significant harm.

If information within a document is withheld, it will be clearly marked
to show where information has been removed and the legal exemption we
have used. If we decline to supply all or part of any information you
have asked for we will notify you in writing giving our reasons based
upon legal exemptions contained within the Freedom of Information Act.

If you are not satisfied about the way in which your Freedom of
Information request has been handled you have the right to appeal. This
information has been designed to help you to understand how to complain
to Humberside Police. Using this process will not affect your right to
complain directly to the Information Commissioner if you feel we have
not complied with our obligations under the Freedom of Information Act.

Who Can Complain?

Anyone who has made a Freedom of Information request in writing to the
Force can complain. If you have requested information and you are not
satisfied with the way we have dealt with it, you can use the complaints
process to have it looked at again. If someone who requested information
would like to complain but cannot do so themselves, you can complain on
their behalf but it will help us if you make it clear that you are doing
so.

What Can I Complain About?

If you are not satisfied with the way we have handled your request, with
the fee we have charged, or with the reasons we have given for refusing
to provide information, you have the right to appeal. You can complain
about the range, amount and format of information we have sent following
a request. You can also complain about the way a request was handled,
for example, the time it took to respond.

How Do I Complain?

To deal with your complaint as quickly as possible, it will help if you
can give us as much information as you can about the original request
made and the reason for your complaint. Please put your complaint in
writing and address it to:

FOI Appeals
Humberside Police Information Compliance Unit
Police Headquarters
Priory Road
Hull HU5 5SF

What Happens To My Complaint?

Once we have enough details to identify the request, we will begin the
review. The Head of The Information Compliance Unit will normally review
your complaint. In the more complex cases a review panel consisting of a
number of senior personnel from the Force will re-examine your
complaint. We aim to complete the review process within three months of
receiving your complaint. Upon completion we will send you the findings.

How Will I Be Notified?

Where we have not followed procedures or have failed to provide
acceptable quality of service, we will apologise and explain what we
will do to ensure this doesn't happen again. If our original decision to
withhold information is over-turned on appeal we will send you the
additional information immediately. If we believe that our original
response was correct we will let you know, and inform you of your
options (see below).

What If I'm Still Not Satisfied?

If we have been unable to resolve your complaint and you are not
satisfied you can approach the office of the Information Commissioner,
who may investigate the matter on your behalf. This option is open to
you at all times, but we will endeavour to address your complaint
initially, as this may lead to a speedier resolution. It is the
Information Commissioner who decides whether to investigate or not. We
will co-operate fully with the Information Commissioner.

If you have any further questions about the complaints process, please
contact the Information Compliance Unit on 01482 578313 or alternatively
you can write to:
Head of Information Compliance Unit
Humberside Police Headquarters
Priory Road
Hull HU5 5SF
Email: [email address]

Requests for a review by the Information Commissioner should be made in
writing directly to:
The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

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