warrants issued for breach of probation licence conditions

Dear Mr Plough

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: RFI1990/1

I write in connection with your request for information which was dated
and received on 09th July 2009.

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 West Mercia 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 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.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or telephone the Information Compliance Unit quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

Miss R Forrest

Deputy Information Compliance Manager

Information Compliance Unit

Information Management and Technology Department

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Dear Mr Plough

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: RFI 1990

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
on 9^th July 2009. Please find below the response to your request:

1) In the last 5 years, how many warrants for arrest have been issued for
an individual who has broken their probation licence

conditions?

(2) Out of this figure, how many were considered high priority and/or
considered to pose a risk of harm to others?

(3) Out of the total number of warrants issued per year, as stated in
answer to (1), how many of those individuals have been

re-arrested?

(4) Out of the warrants consider high priority, as stated in the answer to
(2), how many of those individuals have been re-arrested?

(5) Out of the total number of warrants issued, as stated in the answer to
(1), how many of those individuals have re-offended while

a warrant for their arrest was active?

(6) Out of the total number of warrants issued, as stated in the answer to
(2), how many of those individuals have re-offended while

a warrant for their arrest was active?

(7) Referring to the individuals stated in answer in question (5), what
crimes have they committed while a warrant for their arrest

was active?

(8) Referring to the individuals stated in answer in question (6) what
crimes have they committed while a warrant for their arrest

was active?

(9) Please provide the following information about any individual who is
the subject of a warrant for arrest for breaking their

probation licence conditions, but who has not as yet been
re-arrested:

* names, ages and last offence for which they received a custodial

sentence.

REPLY: No recorded information held. I am further informed by the Safety
and Justice Department, that West Mercia Police do not receive these
breach warrants and have not done so for over 5 years. The courts within
West Mercia deal with them themselves by employing outside agencies as
court enforcement teams. I am further informed that on occasions our
warrants managers do assist the court enforcement teams with the execution
of breach warrants but unlike fail to attend warrants, we do not recorded
them.

Under Section 16 of the act, duty to give advice and assistance, I can
inform you that I have been made aware that the National Offender
Management Unit within the Ministry of Justice does hold the information
in an easily retrievable format. I have included their email address
which you may find useful.

[1][email address]

The below department and web site may also be useful.

HM Courts Service (HMCS) Customer Service Unit, 4^th Floor 102 Petty
France, London SW1H 9AJ, or visit their web site:

www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk

Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or telephone the Information Compliance Unit quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

Mr B McDermott

FOI Officer

Information Compliance Unit

Information Management and Technology Department

West Mercia Police

PO Box 55

Hindlip

Worcester

WR3 8SP

01905 331545 / 331565

West Mercia 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, West Mercia Police
Headquarters, PO Box 55, Hindlip, Worcester, WR3 8SP.

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 West Mercia Police (WMP) to review their
decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the person 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 person named 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
WMP made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information, you can lodge a complaint with WMP to have the
decision reviewed. WMP must be notified of your intention to complain
within 2 months of the date of its response to your Freedom of Information
request. Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

West Mercia Police Headquarters

Information Management and Technology Department

Hindlip Hall

Hindlip

PO Box 55

Worcester

WR3 8SP

In all possible circumstances, WMP will aim to respond to your complaint
within 2 months.

The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with WMP 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 545700

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