The British National Party

November 4, 2009

Dear Mr. Walker,

FREEDOM of INFORMATION ACT 2000

I write in connection with your request for information dated November 3, 2009 which was received by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on November 3, 2009. I note you seek access to the following information:

Various questions regarding the British National Party, Combat 18 and the National Front

This request will be dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. A response should be sent to you within 20 working days. The Freedom of Information team will advise you in writing if there are any delays in responding to your request and will keep you advised of progress.

In the event where the cost of complying with the request would exceed the "appropriate level", which is fixed at £450, as stated in the Freedom of Information Regulations 2004, it is the policy of the PSNI to close the request. You will however be notified of this decision and given an opportunity to refine and resubmit the request.

If your request requires either full or partial transference to another public authority in order to answer your query, again, you will be notified.
If you have any queries regarding your request please write or contact the Freedom of Information Team on 028 9070 0164. Please remember to quote the reference number listed above in any future communications with the Freedom of Information Team.

If you are dissatisfied in any way with the handling of your request, you have the right to request a review.You should do this as soon as possible, or in any case within two months of the date of issue of this letter.In the event that you require a review to be undertaken, you can do so by writing to the Head of Freedom of Information, PSNI Headquarters, 65 Knock Road, Belfast, BT5 6LE or by emailing [email address].

If following an internal review, carried out by an independent decision maker, you were to remain dissatisfied in any way with the handling of the request you may make a complaint,under Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act, to the Information Commissioner's Office and ask that they investigate whether the PSNI has complied with the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. You can write to the Information Commissioner at Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. In most circumstances the Information Commissioner will not investigate a complaint unless an internal review procedure has been carried out, however the Commissioner has the option to investigate the matter at his discretion.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Gordon Reid
A/Head of Freedom of Information

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November 5, 2009

Dear Mr. Walker,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

I write in connection with your request for information dated November
3, 2009 which was received by the The Police Service of Northern
Ireland on November 3, 2009. I note you seek access to the following
information:

Various questions regarding the British National Party, Combat 18 and
the National Front

To enable the Police Service of Northern Ireland to meet your request
could you please provide further clarification on the following:

The Police Regulations 2003 do not apply to the Police Service of
Northern Ireland (PSNI). The PSNI is governed by the Police Service of
Northern Ireland (Conduct) (Amendment ) Regulations 2008 - regulation 2.
The standards set out in these Regulations are replicated into the PSNI
Code of Ethical Standards Required of Police Officers. None of the
organisations mentioned in your request are specifically mentioned in
those Regulations.

The standards expected of police officers within the PSNI is contained
within several pieces of legislation which has changed several times
within the past years and the date in which the misconduct occurred will
dictate which legislation is relevant. The legislation is as follows:

The Discipline Code is contained within Schedule 1 of the Royal Ulster
Constabulary (Discipline and Disciplinary Appeals) Regulations 1988.
The Disciplinary Code was replaced by the Code of Conduct on 6th
November 2000 and is contained within Schedule 4 of the Royal Ulster
Constabulary (Conduct) Regulations 2000. The Code of Conduct was
replaced by the code of Ethics on 14th March 2003 by virtue of
Regulation 2 of the Police Service of Northern Ireland ( Conduct)
Regulations 2003 as amended by Schedule i of the Police Service of
Northern Ireland Regulations 2005 and Regulation 2 of the Police Service
of Northern Ireland ( Conduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2008. The
legislation may be viewed by visiting website www.opsi.gov.uk .

The current PSNI Code of Ethics may be viewed by visiting website
www.psni.police.uk/code_of_ethics_2008 .

As the Police Regulations 2003 are not applicable to the PSNI can you
please clarify what information you request the PSNI to supply.

You should be aware that the 20 day legislative time limit dictated by
the Freedom of Information Act 2000 has been stopped until we receive
clarification of your request.

Please send clarification of your request by writing to Freedom of
Information Team, PSNI Headquarters, 65 Knock Road Belfast BT5 6LE or by
email to [email address]. Alternatively, if you wish to discuss
your request or have any additional queries you can contact me on 028
9070 0164.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Gordon Reid
A/Head of Freedom of Information

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