Policing the Hunting Act

The request was successful.

Dear Durham Constabulary,

My questions relate to your organisational structure concerning the policing of the Hunting Act, in particular illegal foxhunting.

1. While I understand that any officer can answer a 999 or 101 call relating to illegal hunting, which section or department has the responsibility for investigating any breaches of the Hunting Act?

2. Does this section or department have any other responsibilities, and if so, what are they?

3. How many staff work in this section or department and what rank are they?

4. Does the force have any Wildlife Crime Officers and if so, how many active Wildlife Crime officers are there and where are they based?

5. Does the force have an “Aide Memoire” or any other document for officers to use when involved in a call for illegal foxhunting? If so, may we see a copy of it?

6. How many police officers are there in total in the force?

Yours faithfully,

Pip Donovan

Freedom of Information, Durham Constabulary

Due to the Coronavirus/COVID 19 pandemic and the  changing circumstances 
for all, the Unit must prioritise essential safeguarding work for the 
health and social care sector, and also for the Family Court. Delays in 
other areas are likely to occur and may fall outside any statutory or 
other expected timescales. We apologise for any inconvenience this may 
cause, we will of course endeavour to process your request as soon as 
practicable. If your request is not urgent or can be retracted at any 
stage, please let us know as soon as possible via our published email 
addresses. From 5^th January 2021, the majority of our staff are working
from home due to the lockdown position and we will only have very limited
numbers of staff in the Office occasionally and we will  therefore not be
able to regularly collect correspondence sent via post. We thank  you for
your understanding and support and wish you and your family well  during
these uncertain times.
DURHAM CONSTABULARY, Protecting Neighbourhoods, Tackling Criminals,
Solving Problems…Around the Clock

NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING: Use your postcode to get access to local news and
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Dear Durham Constabulary,

You have not responded to my FOI. The due date was yesterday.

Yours faithfully,

Pip Donovan

Freedom of Information,

Good morning,

We apologise for the delays in contacting you which have been due to the due to the staff in the Information Rights and Disclosure Unit having to prioritise the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children for the health, social care sector and Family Courts during the current period of national health emergency.

We are currently still processing your request and will disclose the requested information as soon as possible.

If you no longer require this information please let us know.
Once again we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Decision Maker
Information Rights & Disclosure Unit
Business Innovation & Development Command
Durham Constabulary
Police Headquaters
Akyley Heads
Durham DH1 5TT

Our Values & Vision:
Positive | Fair | Courageous | Inclusive | With Integrity
Protecting Neighbourhoods, Tackling Criminals, Solving Problems

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Freedom of Information,

1 Attachment

Good morning,

Please find attached the response to the request.

Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Decision Maker.
Business Innovation & Development Command
Durham Constabulary
Our Values & Vision:
Positive | Fair | Courageous | Inclusive | With Integrity
Protecting Neighbourhoods, Tackling Criminals, Solving Problems

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Dear Freedom of Information,
I think you might have sent me the wrong document in reply to my FOI. Please advise.

Yours sincerely,

Pip Donovan

Freedom of Information,

1 Attachment

Good morning,

Please find attached the response to the request.

Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Decision Maker.
Business Innovation & Development Command
Durham Constabulary
Our Values & Vision:
Positive | Fair | Courageous | Inclusive | With Integrity
Protecting Neighbourhoods, Tackling Criminals, Solving Problems

show quoted sections

Dear Freedom of Information,

You have not answered questions 4 or 5 of my FOI request - nor have you explained why you haven't answered them.

The questions were:

4.Does the force have any Wildlife Crime Officers and if so, how many active Wildlife Crime officers are there and where are they based?

5.Does the force have an “Aide Memoire” or any other document for officers to use when involved in a call for illegal foxhunting? If so, may we see a copy of it?

Yours sincerely,

Pip Donovan

Freedom of Information,

Due to the Coronavirus/COVID 19 pandemic and the  changing circumstances 
for all, the Unit must prioritise essential safeguarding work for the 
health and social care sector, and also for the Family Court. Delays in 
other areas are likely to occur and may fall outside any statutory or 
other expected timescales. We apologise for any inconvenience this may 
cause, we will of course endeavour to process your request as soon as 
practicable. If your request is not urgent or can be retracted at any 
stage, please let us know as soon as possible via our published email 
addresses. From 5^th January 2021, the majority of our staff are working
from home due to the lockdown position and we will only have very limited
numbers of staff in the Office occasionally and we will  therefore not be
able to regularly collect correspondence sent via post. We thank  you for
your understanding and support and wish you and your family well  during
these uncertain times.
DURHAM CONSTABULARY, Protecting Neighbourhoods, Tackling Criminals,
Solving Problems…Around the Clock

NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING: Use your postcode to get access to local news and
events from your Neighbourhood Policing Team, at
https://www.durham.police.uk

This email carries a disclaimer, a copy of which may be read at
https://www.durham.police.uk/Pages/E-Mai...
DURHAM CONSTABULARY, Protecting Neighbourhoods, Tackling Criminals,
Solving Problems…Around the Clock

NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING: Use your postcode to get access to local news and
events from your Neighbourhood Policing Team, at
https://www.durham.police.uk

This email carries a disclaimer, a copy of which may be read at
https://www.durham.police.uk/Pages/E-Mai...

Freedom of Information,

Good afternoon,

In relation to your email below please see the information provided on the new Force website on the following link:

https://live-durham-con.cloud.contensis....

Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Decision Maker.
Business Innovation & Development Command
Durham Constabulary
Our Values & Vision:
Positive | Fair | Courageous | Inclusive | With Integrity
Protecting Neighbourhoods, Tackling Criminals, Solving Problems

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Dear Freedom of Information,

Thank you for your response to our FOI. However, you have not answered all of the questions, or given a reason why you haven't answered them. The questions you haven't answered were 2), 3) 4) and 5).

Yours sincerely,

Pip Donovan

Dear Durham Constabulary,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Durham Constabulary's handling of my FOI request 'Policing the Hunting Act'.

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

You have partially answered my request, but not all of it. However, you have neither explained why you haven't answered the rest of it, nor have you actually refused to answer it. I queried it immediately after I received your inadequate response, and you have not replied to that either.

Please respond asap.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/p...

Yours faithfully,

Pip Donovan

Freedom of Information,

Good morning,

Thank you for your email.
Your request will be reviewed and the internal reviewer will contact you in due course.

Kind regards

Decision Maker
Information Rights & Disclosure Unit
Business Innovation & Development Command
Durham Constabulary
Police Headquaters
Akyley Heads
Durham DH1 5TT
Our Values & Vision:
Positive | Fair | Courageous | Inclusive | With Integrity
Protecting Neighbourhoods, Tackling Criminals, Solving Problems

show quoted sections

Dear Freedom of Information,

Please would you let me know when you are planning on conducting the internal review for the FOI I sent you. I asked for the internal review on 28th May. I am still waiting for your response.

Yours sincerely,

Pip Donovan

Freedom of Information,

1 Attachment

Good Afternoon Pip,

I have concluded a Review of your request, and have provided an amended response which answers all of your questions.

Yours Sincerely
Freedom of Information Decision Maker
Business Innovation & Development Command
Durham Constabulary
Police Headquarters
Aykley Heads
Durham DH1 5TT
Email: [email address]

Our Values & Vision:
Positive | Fair | Courageous | Inclusive | With Integrity
Protecting Neighbourhoods, Tackling Criminals, Solving Problems

show quoted sections