Charges made to Manchester Pride

The request was successful.

Dear Greater Manchester Police

In a previous FOI request you wrote that:

"GMP charge the Manchester Pride event organisers for the supply of special police services under Section 25(1) of the Police Act 1996. As this is a charitable event, GMP does not charge the full Section 25(1) rate for policing this specific event."

And you gave a list of charges as follows:

Manchester Pride 2010: £52,500
Manchester Pride 2009: £50,000
Manchester Pride 2008: £45,000
Manchester Pride 2007: £30,000
Manchester Pride 2006: £30,000
Manchester Pride 2005: £30,000
Manchester Pride 2004: £20,000
Europride 2003: £20,000

In every single year the increase in charges is above the rate of inflation (which I would estimate to be about 3% per year). There is a 50% increase in one year in both 2005 and 2008 and an 11% increase in 2009.

Please can you explain why the charges increased above the rate of inflation and why by such a large amount in the particular years I have mentioned? For example, was there a 50% increase in police officers on the street in 2005 and then again in 2008? Or an 11% increase in 2009? Or is there some other explanation?

How is the charge calculated and who decides what it will be? I note that in all years except 2010 it appears to be rounded to the nearest £5,000?

I ask because higher charges mean not only higher prices for the public (many of whom are excluded from the event due to the ticket price) but also they mean less money left in the end for good causes.

Indeed, I note that in 2005 £120,772 was raised for good causes by Pride. Whereas the previous year, 2004, £129,426 was raised. A drop of £8,654 for charity. While your charge increased by £10,000 over that same period.

Thank you.

R.Stafford

Greater Manchester Police

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Information Access Team

From: "R.Stafford" <[FOI #64195 email]>
To: FOI requests at Greater Manchester Police
<[Greater Manchester Police request email]>
Date: 04/03/2011 14:28
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Charges made to Manchester Pride

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Dear Greater Manchester Police

In a previous FOI request you wrote that:

"GMP charge the Manchester Pride event organisers for the supply of
special police services under Section 25(1) of the Police Act 1996.
As this is a charitable event, GMP does not charge the full Section
25(1) rate for policing this specific event."

And you gave a list of charges as follows:

Manchester Pride 2010: **52,500
Manchester Pride 2009: **50,000
Manchester Pride 2008: **45,000
Manchester Pride 2007: **30,000
Manchester Pride 2006: **30,000
Manchester Pride 2005: **30,000
Manchester Pride 2004: **20,000
Europride 2003: **20,000

In every single year the increase in charges is above the rate of
inflation (which I would estimate to be about 3% per year). There
is a 50% increase in one year in both 2005 and 2008 and an 11%
increase in 2009.

Please can you explain why the charges increased above the rate of
inflation and why by such a large amount in the particular years I
have mentioned? For example, was there a 50% increase in police
officers on the street in 2005 and then again in 2008? Or an 11%
increase in 2009? Or is there some other explanation?

How is the charge calculated and who decides what it will be? I
note that in all years except 2010 it appears to be rounded to the
nearest **5,000?

I ask because higher charges mean not only higher prices for the
public (many of whom are excluded from the event due to the ticket
price) but also they mean less money left in the end for good
causes.

Indeed, I note that in 2005 **120,772 was raised for good causes by
Pride. Whereas the previous year, 2004, **129,426 was raised. A drop
of **8,654 for charity. While your charge increased by **10,000 over
that same period.

Thank you.

R.Stafford

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1 Attachment

Dear R Stafford

with reference to your recent Freedom of Information request to Greater
Manchester Police, re Manchester Pride, please find attached your
response:

Please note a revised disclosure of your previous request, our ref GSA
5080/10, has been sent today as a result of an error.

Many thanks for your enquiry. Please direct any response to the following
email [Greater Manchester Police request email]

kind regards

Philip A Humphreys
Information Access Officer
Information Management Branch
Greater Manchester Police
Tel : 0161 856 2511
Ext : 62511

*Not Protectively Marked*This e mail carries a disclaimer, a copy of which
may be read at:

http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/...