Criminal Investigations

The request was successful.

Dear Aberdeen City Council,

Can you please provide, under the provisions of FOI, details of the following

1. The number of employees in your authority that are employed to undertake criminal investigations.
2. Details of the designation of all of the above employees.
3. The number of the above employees who have undertaken training in respect of Part 6 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.
4. If any of the above employees have not undertaken training in respect of Part 6 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 please provide details of procedures in place to reduce the risk of miscarriages of justice occurring.
5. The number of employees who are trained to perform the role of

Senior Investigating Officer
Reviewing Officer
Reporting Officer

Yours faithfully

James McKay

Foi Enquiries, Aberdeen City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr McKay

 

Thank you for your request for information, made under Section 1(1) of the
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA), and received on 12^th May
2015.

 

We would like to ask you to clarify your request so that we can identify
and locate the information which you have requested. Under Section 1(3) of
the FOISA, we do not have to supply you with the requested information
until you have provided us with more detail in this respect.

 

1. The number of employees in your authority that are employed to
undertake criminal investigations.

2. Details of the designation of all of the above employees.

3. The number of the above employees who have undertaken training  in
respect of Part 6 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act
2010.

4. If any of the above employees have not undertaken training in respect
of Part 6 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 please
provide details of procedures in place to reduce the risk of  miscarriages
of justice occurring.

5. The number of employees who are trained to perform the role of

 

Senior Investigating Officer

Reviewing Officer

Reporting Officer

 

We would be extremely grateful if you could clarify whether there is a
particular Service/Directorate of the local authority to which this
relates, or if this would cover all Services/Directorates?

 

Clarifying these points will help us to be sure we are providing, where
possible, the information you are interested in.  Please note we will keep
your request on file for 20 working days whilst we await your
clarification.  It can often be helpful to discuss your request with a
member of our team who may be able to help you frame your request or
explain more about how ACC holds its information; if this is something you
feel may be helpful please do call us, and we will be happy to assist you.

 

We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Yours sincerely,

Jacqueline Gillanders

Information Compliance Officer

 

Information Compliance Team
Communications and Promotion
Office of Chief Executive
Aberdeen City Council
Lower Ground North (Hub 2)
Marischal College
Broad Street
ABERDEEN AB10 1AQ

[1][Aberdeen City Council request email]
01224 523827/522252/523602

Tel 08456 08 09 10

(The only charge for this call

will be your phone company’s access charge).

[2]www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachment to it) is
confidential, protected by copyright and may be privileged. The
information contained in it should be used for its intended purposes only.
If you receive this email in error, notify the sender by reply email,
delete the received email and do not make use of, disclose or copy it.
Whilst we take reasonable precautions to ensure that our emails are free
from viruses, we cannot be responsible for any viruses transmitted with
this email and recommend that you subject any incoming email to your own
virus checking procedures. Unless related to Council business, the
opinions expressed in this email are those of the sender and they do not
necessarily constitute those of Aberdeen City Council. Unless we expressly
say otherwise in this email or its attachments, neither this email nor its
attachments create, form part of or vary any contractual or unilateral
obligation. Aberdeen City Council's incoming and outgoing email is subject
to regular monitoring.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Aberdeen City Council request email]
2. http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/

Dear Foi Enquiries,

Apologies for the delay in responding.

The request is regarding all council services.

Yours sincerely,

James

Foi Enquiries, Aberdeen City Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr McKay,

 

Information enquiry reference FOI-15-0596.

 

Many thanks for your recent clarification of your information request,
which we received on 29 May 2015. 

 

The scheduled date for our response to your request for information is on
or before 26 June 2015.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries in the
meantime.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Anna Buchan

Information Compliance Officer

 

 

Information Compliance Team
Communications and Promotion
Office of Chief Executive
Aberdeen City Council
Lower Ground North (Hub 2)
Marischal College
Broad Street
ABERDEEN AB10 1AQ

[Aberdeen City Council request email]
01224 523827/522252/523602

Tel 08456 08 09 10

(The only charge for this call

will be your phone company’s access charge).

[1]www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

 

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachment to it) is
confidential, protected by copyright and may be privileged. The
information contained in it should be used for its intended purposes only.
If you receive this email in error, notify the sender by reply email,
delete the received email and do not make use of, disclose or copy it.
Whilst we take reasonable precautions to ensure that our emails are free
from viruses, we cannot be responsible for any viruses transmitted with
this email and recommend that you subject any incoming email to your own
virus checking procedures. Unless related to Council business, the
opinions expressed in this email are those of the sender and they do not
necessarily constitute those of Aberdeen City Council. Unless we expressly
say otherwise in this email or its attachments, neither this email nor its
attachments create, form part of or vary any contractual or unilateral
obligation. Aberdeen City Council's incoming and outgoing email is subject
to regular monitoring.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/

Foi Enquiries, Aberdeen City Council

Dear Mr McKay

 

Thank you for your clarified information request of 29 May 2015.  Aberdeen
City Council (ACC) has completed the necessary search for the information
requested.

 

Can you please provide, under the provisions of FOI, details of the
following the request is regarding all council services):

 

1. The number of employees in your authority that are employed to
undertake criminal investigations.

Revenue and Benefits

5 in the Revenue and Benefits team.

 

Trading Standards Service

Within the Trading Standards Service, we currently employ 11 officers who
are trained to carry out investigations into breaches of criminal law.

 

Environmental Protection

14 officers within Environmental Protection can undertake investigations
in relation to the legislation they enforce.

 

Commercial Team - Environmental Health

20 officers.

 

2. Details of the designation of all of the above employees.

Revenue and Benefits

1 x Corporate Fraud Investigation Team Manager

2 x Corporate Fraud Investigation Officer

1 x Blue Badge Enforcement Officer

1 x Corporate Fraud Support Officer

 

Trading Standards Service

Authorised Officer (3 plus 2 vacancies)

Senior Authorised Officer (2 plus 1 vacancy)

Trading Standards Officer (1.65 plus 1.35 vacancies)

Principal Trading Standards Officer (2)

Trading Standards Manager (1)

 

Environmental Protection

1 x Environmental Protection Manager

3 x Principal Environmental Health Officers

2 x Environment Health Officer

1 x Senior Authorised Officer

4 x Authorised Officer

1 x Scientific Officer

2 x Dog Warden

 

Commercial Team – Environmental Health

1 x Commercial Team Manager

2 x Principal Environmental Health Officers

9 x Environmental Health Officers

2 x Senior Authorised Officers

3 x Authorised Officers

2 x Licensing Standards Officers

 

3. The number of the above employees who have undertaken training in
respect of Part 6 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act
2010.

Revenue and Benefits

Please refer to the response to Question 4 below.

 

Trading Standards Service

All, either at training events organised by the Crown Office or by the
Scottish Branch of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. Also,
colleagues from Environmental Health organised a Disclosure training
course for Environmental Health and Trading Standards staff in December
2011.

 

Environmental Protection

None.

 

Commercial Team – Environmental Health

6 officers

 

4. If any of the above employees have not undertaken training in respect
of Part 6 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 please
provide details of procedures in place to reduce the risk of  miscarriages
of justice occurring.

Revenue and Benefits

The  team has not had training specifically on this area. Investigators
are bound by this Act as well as others and are aware of the requirements
to make all evidence available to the Procurator Fiscal.  Investigators
cannot report cases to the Procurator Fiscal without authority from their
Manager.

 

Trading Standards Service

A part of each case submission is a list of all evidence which has been
taken into the possession of the reporting officer during the
investigation. It is then referenced in the case submission. If
proceedings are raised against the individual or business by the Crown and
a not guilty plea is entered at the Pleading Diet, the Crown Office
contacts the reporting officer requesting Disclosure of all evidence to
the Crown by a particular date. Thereafter it is up to the Crown to
disclose that evidence to the defence.

 

Environmental Protection     

This question is not applicable as all breaches of legislation enforced by
the above officers are reported to the Crown who will then take the
decision to proceed with the case or not.

 

Commercial Team – Environmental Health

A part of each case submission is a list of all evidence which has been
taken into the possession of the reporting officer during the
investigation. It is then referenced in the case submission. If
proceedings are raised against the individual or business by the Crown and
a not guilty plea is entered at the Pleading Diet, the Crown Office
contacts the reporting officer requesting Disclosure of all evidence to
the Crown by a particular date. Thereafter it is up to the Crown to
disclose that evidence to the defence.

 

5. The number of employees who are trained to perform the role of:

·         Senior Investigating Officer

·         Reviewing Officer

·         Reporting Officer

Revenue and Benefits

Revenue and Benefits do not have this organisational setup. Please refer
to the response to Question 2 above.

 

Trading Standards Service

The trading standards service do not have this organisational setup.
However, all officers can investigate offences and draft reports for
submission to the Crown Office through the Specialist Reporting Agencies
(SRA) web portal. All cases are reviewed by one of the two Principal
Trading Standard Officers or the Trading Standards Manager, or both, prior
to electronic submission.

 

Environmental Protection

The officers are not specifically trained in regards to these roles but do
receive training organised by either the Crown or relevant professional
body.

 

Commercial Team – Environmental Health

The Commercial Team – Environmental Health do not have this organisational
setup – no formal system in place.  Please refer to the response to
Question 2.

 

We hope this helps with your request.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Anna Buchan

Information Compliance Officer

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE HANDLING OF YOUR REQUEST

 

ACC handled your request for information in accordance with the provisions
of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Please refer to the
attached PDF for more information about your rights under FOISA.

 

Information Compliance Team
Communications and Promotion
Office of Chief Executive
Aberdeen City Council
Lower Ground North (Hub 2)
Marischal College
Broad Street
ABERDEEN AB10 1AQ

[1][Aberdeen City Council request email]
01224 523827/522252/523602

Tel 08456 08 09 10

(The only charge for this call

will be your phone company’s access charge).

[2]www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachment to it) is
confidential, protected by copyright and may be privileged. The
information contained in it should be used for its intended purposes only.
If you receive this email in error, notify the sender by reply email,
delete the received email and do not make use of, disclose or copy it.
Whilst we take reasonable precautions to ensure that our emails are free
from viruses, we cannot be responsible for any viruses transmitted with
this email and recommend that you subject any incoming email to your own
virus checking procedures. Unless related to Council business, the
opinions expressed in this email are those of the sender and they do not
necessarily constitute those of Aberdeen City Council. Unless we expressly
say otherwise in this email or its attachments, neither this email nor its
attachments create, form part of or vary any contractual or unilateral
obligation. Aberdeen City Council's incoming and outgoing email is subject
to regular monitoring.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachment to it) is
confidential, protected by copyright and may be privileged. The
information contained in it should be used for its intended purposes only.
If you receive this email in error, notify the sender by reply email,
delete the received email and do not make use of, disclose or copy it.
Whilst we take reasonable precautions to ensure that our emails are free
from viruses, we cannot be responsible for any viruses transmitted with
this email and recommend that you subject any incoming email to your own
virus checking procedures. Unless related to Council business, the
opinions expressed in this email are those of the sender and they do not
necessarily constitute those of Aberdeen City Council. Unless we expressly
say otherwise in this email or its attachments, neither this email nor its
attachments create, form part of or vary any contractual or unilateral
obligation. Aberdeen City Council's incoming and outgoing email is subject
to regular monitoring.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachment to it) is
confidential, protected by copyright and may be privileged. The
information contained in it should be used for its intended purposes only.
If you receive this email in error, notify the sender by reply email,
delete the received email and do not make use of, disclose or copy it.
Whilst we take reasonable precautions to ensure that our emails are free
from viruses, we cannot be responsible for any viruses transmitted with
this email and recommend that you subject any incoming email to your own
virus checking procedures. Unless related to Council business, the
opinions expressed in this email are those of the sender and they do not
necessarily constitute those of Aberdeen City Council. Unless we expressly
say otherwise in this email or its attachments, neither this email nor its
attachments create, form part of or vary any contractual or unilateral
obligation. Aberdeen City Council's incoming and outgoing email is subject
to regular monitoring.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail (including any attachment to it) is
confidential, protected by copyright and may be privileged. The
information contained in it should be used for its intended purposes only.
If you receive this email in error, notify the sender by reply email,
delete the received email and do not make use of, disclose or copy it.
Whilst we take reasonable precautions to ensure that our emails are free
from viruses, we cannot be responsible for any viruses transmitted with
this email and recommend that you subject any incoming email to your own
virus checking procedures. Unless related to Council business, the
opinions expressed in this email are those of the sender and they do not
necessarily constitute those of Aberdeen City Council. Unless we expressly
say otherwise in this email or its attachments, neither this email nor its
attachments create, form part of or vary any contractual or unilateral
obligation. Aberdeen City Council's incoming and outgoing email is subject
to regular monitoring.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Aberdeen City Council request email]
2. http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/