WEST MERCIA PCC: DISCLOSURE LOG
RESPONSE TO REQUEST
Reference: 2023 – 324 / WE7239
Date of response: 17th March 2023
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – INFORMATION REQUEST
FOI Internal Review Request
Dear West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
This is a request for an internal review of West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner’s
handling of my FOI request ‘The cost for the provision of the TEMPORARY Police Station
in Redditch.’.
The first request we made: ‘Was this need for a temporary police station budgeted for?’ –
this simply required the answer either YES or NO. SURELY YOU ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE THE ANSWER FOR THAT.
PLEASE NOTE: We did NOT ask the following question: “When (on what date), was the
decision made that a temporary police station would be required?” Presumably that bit of
information is, or may be, in the minutes of a meeting which was held.
It’s assumed the decision was probably or might have been made because of reasons like
unexpected delays, and perhaps poor advance planning. With hindsight, a temporary
police station would not be required, IF the new blue light hub was completed before the
police need to vacate the current building in Grove Street.
So, are you still unable, or unwilling, to provide a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the first request? –
Response
Please see the below response to your request.
Thank you for your request for an internal review of West Mercia Police and Crime
Commissioner’s handling of your FOI request ‘The cost for the provision of the
TEMPORARY Police Station in Redditch.’
I have reviewed your request and the associated response you received from this office. I
am satisfied that, while the public interest test was correctly applied and the rationale for
refusal is correct, insofar as the substantive request is covered by the relevant sections
quoted, there was an opportunity to invite a separate request with regards to the opening
question.
I can confirm that we have been aware for some time that there would be a need for
temporary accommodation for Redditch based policing teams while the new joint hub is
being constructed, and that that assumption formed part of our budgetary planning.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write to the
Information Compliance Unit; Information Compliance Unit, PO Box 55, Worcester, WR3
8SP. Email: [email protected]
Yours sincerely,
FOI Officer
West Mercia Police
Complaints
If you think that the Police and Crime Commissioner has failed to supply information in accordance with the publication scheme, then you
should write in the first instance, to the:
Chief Executive, OPCC – West Mercia, Hindlip Hall, Worcester. WR3 8SP
The PCC will aim to deal with your complaint within 10 working days. If you are dissatisfied with the response you can ask for the matter to be internally reviewed. Internal reviews will be completed promptly and a response given to you within 20 working days of your further
request.
If, after the internal review, you remain dissatisfied, then you can complain to the Information Commissioner (Office of the Information
Commissioner), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF).
