Correspondence with Chief Constable on Police Stations
Dear West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner,
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like copies of all correspondence between the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable for West Midlands Police in relation to estates policy and the closure of Police Stations following their announcement to sell off 24 buildings in February 2018.
Correspondence is to include all emails, letters, memos and briefings.
I would further like a breakdown of meeting dates in 2019 and 2020 when the PCC and Chief Constable have discussed police stations (both estates policy and specific closures), both formally and informally.
Yours faithfully,
Jay Singh-Sohal
Thank you for your correspondence which has been received in the West
Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner’s office.
Please note, as a result of the government guidelines in connection with
COVID-19 - informing us that all non-essential contact should cease - all
staff within West Midlands Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner are
now working from home, until further notice. Reviews of the situation will
take place in correspondence with any changes in government guidelines.
As a consequence, please note that all staff within West Midlands Office
of the Police and Crime Commissioner may not be working normal office
hours, but will aim to get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for
your consideration during this time.
We will aim to provide a detailed response within 20 working days, however
due to these unprecedented times this may take longer. We offer our
apologies for any inconvenience caused.
There may also be occasions when a response is not appropriate.
Please note that we may not reply to the following:
• Copy letters / e-mails;
• Correspondence which contains comment/s only, and a response
is not required;
• Sales and / or marketing literature;
• Vexatious letters / e-mails; and
• Letters / e-mails containing abusive or discriminatory
language.
In all other instances, including requests for the release of information
using Freedom of Information Act 2000 legislation or the Data Protection
Act/General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), please accept this response
as confirmation that your request has been received.
If it is necessary in order to respond to your query we will share the
information you send to us with West Midlands Police. More information on
this can be found in our Privacy Notice and if you have any questions or
concerns about this it is important that you contact us immediately to
discuss. The Privacy Notice and further information about how we use your
personal information can be found at
[1]https://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/cook....
Keeping your personal information safe and secure is a priority for us.
We have updated our Privacy Notice in line with the new data protection
regulations (GDPR), and we have made it easier for you to understand all
the information we collect and why we collect it. We will use the contact
details and the information you have provided to respond appropriately to
you.
You may be able to find information to resolve your enquiry on the
Commissioner’s website which can be found here:
[2]http://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/
This email is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged
or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the
originator immediately. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or
alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. Views or opinions
expressed in this email do not necessarily represent those of West
Midlands Police. All West Midlands Police email activity is monitored for
virus, racist, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate activity. No
responsibility is accepted by West Midlands Police for any loss or damage
arising in any way from the receipt or use of this email.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/cook...
2. http://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/
Dear Jay Singh-Sohal,
Please find response attached to your request dated 9 October 2020.
Kind Regards
Lucy Naylor
Business Support Team Leader
M: 07775005864
DD: 0121 626 6060
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner
Lloyd House, Colmore Circus Queensway
Birmingham, B4 6NQ
[1]www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk
[2]cid:image001.png@01D3C067.C132C210[3]cid:image002.png@01D3C067.C132C210
[4]cid:image004.png@01D572C3.15DD46F0[5]cid:image005.png@01D572C3.15DD46F0[6]cid:image006.png@01D572C3.15DD46F0
PLEASE NOTE:
Due to the government guidelines in connection with COVID-19, staff within
West Midlands Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner are working
part-time from home and part-time in the office.
If you wish to contact me please call me on my mobile (above). I am still
attending meetings, largely virtually. If you wish to contact the OPCC
please email [7][West Midlands PCC request email]
Please note that I may not be working normal office hours but I will get
back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your consideration during
this time.
Keeping your personal information safe and secure is a priority for us.
We have updated our Privacy Notice in line with the new data protection
regulations (GDPR), and we have made it easier for you to understand all
the information we collect and why we collect it. To find out more about
how we use your personal information please look at our [8]Privacy Notice
Dear West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner's handling of my FOI request 'Correspondence with Chief Constable on Police Stations'.
The response to the FOI request has seen the release of some documents, which are helpful in answering my initial question.
But it is disappointing that for a number of documents an exemption under section 43(2) has been applied. This relates to the following documents:
PCC Decision 031-2020 is a confidential decision that relates to PCC Report 155 Russell Bank Road.
PCC Decision – 015-2020 is a confidential decision relating to disposals.
PCC Decision 034-2019 is a confidential decision relating to the Estates Programme.
PCC Decision 033-2019 is a confidential decision relating to the Estates Programme.
PCC decision 024/2019 is a commercially confidential decision regarding Police Buildings.
PCC Decision 016-2019 is a commercially confidential decision relating to the early release of 5 Princip Street.
PCC Decision 010-2019 is a commercially confidential decision relating to the Estates Programme.
PCC Decision 027-2018 is a commercially confidential decision in relation to the Disposal
of Property.
Given that the current estates programme is a highly sensitive issue within communities affected by police station closures, I believe there is a public interest argument in releasing these document with parts that are commercially sensitive redacted to ensure they do not prejudice such commerciality if released.
Furthermore, within the FOI request letter you stated on the top of p3:
Discussion between PCC and CC 24 February 2020, note of meeting:
5. Estates
- Conversations had with B’ham city council
I cannot find any reference to what these conversations entailed or were based upon, so would like to further seek clarification with information about the issues discussed.
In summary, this request for an internal review thus carries this question of 1) releasing these aforementioned documents with commercially sensitive elements redacted, and 2) requirement for further details on conversations had with B'ham city council about estates.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
Yours faithfully,
Jay Singh-Sohal
Thank you for your correspondence which has been received in the West
Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner’s office.
Please note, as a result of the government guidelines in connection with
COVID-19 - informing us that all non-essential contact should cease - all
staff within West Midlands Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner are
now working from home, until further notice. Reviews of the situation will
take place in correspondence with any changes in government guidelines.
As a consequence, please note that all staff within West Midlands Office
of the Police and Crime Commissioner may not be working normal office
hours, but will aim to get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for
your consideration during this time.
We will aim to provide a detailed response within 20 working days, however
due to these unprecedented times this may take longer. We offer our
apologies for any inconvenience caused.
There may also be occasions when a response is not appropriate.
Please note that we may not reply to the following:
• Copy letters / e-mails;
• Correspondence which contains comment/s only, and a response
is not required;
• Sales and / or marketing literature;
• Vexatious letters / e-mails; and
• Letters / e-mails containing abusive or discriminatory
language.
In all other instances, including requests for the release of information
using Freedom of Information Act 2000 legislation or the Data Protection
Act/General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), please accept this response
as confirmation that your request has been received.
If it is necessary in order to respond to your query we will share the
information you send to us with West Midlands Police. More information on
this can be found in our Privacy Notice and if you have any questions or
concerns about this it is important that you contact us immediately to
discuss. The Privacy Notice and further information about how we use your
personal information can be found at
[1]https://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/cook....
Keeping your personal information safe and secure is a priority for us.
We have updated our Privacy Notice in line with the new data protection
regulations (GDPR), and we have made it easier for you to understand all
the information we collect and why we collect it. We will use the contact
details and the information you have provided to respond appropriately to
you.
You may be able to find information to resolve your enquiry on the
Commissioner’s website which can be found here:
[2]http://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/
This email is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged
or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the
originator immediately. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or
alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. Views or opinions
expressed in this email do not necessarily represent those of West
Midlands Police. All West Midlands Police email activity is monitored for
virus, racist, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate activity. No
responsibility is accepted by West Midlands Police for any loss or damage
arising in any way from the receipt or use of this email.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/cook...
2. http://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now