Number of racism related incidents

Dear Lauren,

RE: Request for Information
Ref No: 2016-0127

We write further to your request for information dated 24th December 2016 regarding racist related incidents at Birmingham City University.

In response to these requests, internal enquiries and searches were commenced within our Student Services, Complaints and Appeals, Human Resources and security service departments. However it has become apparent to be able to fully respond to your request for information, in addition to electronic records we will have to review records that are paper based and it would necessitate going through 4 years’ worth of paper documentation to fully determine what information we hold within these records in response to your request.

Under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act we are not obliged to comply with a request when it is estimated the cost of complying would exceed the appropriate limit. In this case the time in determining whether any information relevant to this request is held within the paper records is estimated to exceed 18 hours during which time staff would be diverted from carrying out their other duties and responsibilities. In this case we are therefore unable to confirm or deny if we hold the information within these records you have requested. If you do wish to refine your request, for example, for a smaller time period or for a sample period, we can undertake a reasonable search to see what, if any, relevant records are held. For example, we could undertake a search of electronic records only or we could search a specified 6 month period of the paper records. If you do wish to refine your request we would be happy to discuss this and the terms/scope with you.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Requests for an internal review should be made to the Information Governance Manager at [Birmingham City University request email] or by writing to: Information Governance Manager, Birmingham City University, 15 Bartholomew Row, Birmingham, B5 5JU.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Please see https://ico.org.uk/concerns/getting/ for details of their procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Information Management Team
Birmingham City University
15 Bartholomew Row
Birmingham
B5 5JU

T: 0121 300 4186
E: FreedomOfInformation @bcu.ac.uk

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