Reporting and Investigation of complaints involving Councillors or Council Officers
Dear North Yorkshire Police,
I have been informed that North Yorkshire Police operate a policy / practice only to investigate complaints against Councillors or Council Officers at the formal request of the Council's Monitoring Officer.
Is it the case that NYP have, do operate or have operated such a policy / practice?
If so
This policy/practice removes a citizens right to report potential criminal activity and have it investigated
Gives a council officer a veto over the citizen watchdog checks and balances necessary to prevent crime and corruption and their rights to redress.
Could amount to de-facto collusion between NYP and a council to pervert the course of justice.
Therefore if such a policy/practice is operated I wish to request the following additional information;
What is the justification and rationale for the policy?
Has the policy / practice been approved by the Home Office and has NYP benchmarked similar policy/ practice adopted by other Police forces.
Is the Police and Crime Commissioner aware of the policy/practice?
Who adopted approved the policy / practice and when?
What is the procedure where the complaint is against the Councils Monitoring Officer or person in a position to influence the Monitoring Officer?
What is the procedure for the Monitoring Officer acting corruptly or under coercion?
How do members of the public make complaints that are vetoed by the Monitoring Officer
Yours faithfully,
Geoff Pickering
Thank you for your email, please treat this as an acknowledgement of receipt.
We are currently experiencing a very high volume of requests for information. We will endeavour to provide a response to your request as soon as we can.
Your email will be dealt with accordingly.
PLEASE NOTE: If your query is to address an urgent safeguarding concern then please redirect your enquiry to the Vulnerability Assessment Team email: [email address]<mailto:[email address]>
The Vulnerability Assessment Team is available during office hours Monday to Friday.
Civil Disclosure Unit
Web: www.northyorkshire.police.uk<http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/>
Good afternoon,
Please see attached response to your request for information
(263.2018-19),
Kind Regards
Liz
Liz Fryar
Collar Number 4437
Legal Officer – Civil Disclosure
Joint Corporate Legal Services
North Yorkshire Police
Please note my normal working days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday.
Dial 101, press option 2 and ask for me by my full name or collar number.
If using my collar number please state each number individually.
[1]www.northyorkshire.police.uk
Committed to the Code of Ethics
THIS EMAIL AND ANY ATTACHMENT(S) MAY BE SUBJECT TO LEGAL PROFESSIONAL
PRIVILEGE - PLEASE DO NOT DISCLOSE THE CONTENT TO ANYONE ELSE WITHOUT
ASKING JOINT CORPORATE LEGAL SERVICES
References
Visible links
1. http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/
Dear Fryar, Liz,
Thank you so much for your response.
I appreciate your confirmation that there is no such policy however my request for information included practice as well as policy. As this is not covered I request further clarification or an internal review.
is there any indication of this. I would suggest a comparison of the number of complaints made with the number of complaints investigated and the number of cases prosecuted may give indication as to the practice.
could you please advise if you have made such investigation and if not is it necessary to issue a fresh request for this information
Yours sincerely,
Geoff Pickering
Good afternoon,
Thank you for your request for an internal review of 263.2018-19. I have logged this and a response will be sent to you in due course.
Kind Regards
Liz
Liz Fryar
Collar Number 4437
Legal Officer – Civil Disclosure
Joint Corporate Legal Services
North Yorkshire Police
Please note my normal working days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Dial 101, press option 2 and ask for me by my full name or collar number. If using my collar number please state each number individually.
Committed to the Code of Ethics
THIS EMAIL AND ANY ATTACHMENT(S) MAY BE SUBJECT TO LEGAL PROFESSIONAL PRIVILEGE - PLEASE DO NOT DISCLOSE THE CONTENT TO ANYONE ELSE WITHOUT ASKING JOINT CORPORATE LEGAL SERVICES
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