Misconduct Allegations (527A/20)
Request
In the years calendar 2019 and between 1.1.2020 and 22.7.2020
How many internal allegations have been made against police officers or police staff where it is alleged that they
Failed to report, challenge or take action against the conduct of colleagues which had fallen below the standards of professional behaviour
For the first 5 complaints of each year (if any) please provide details of the complaint
To avoid falling into exemptions I am happy to have names ages and other identifying personal information to be redacted
Response
We can confirm that some relevant information is held by West Midlands Police. However, while the majority of the information is attached to this email I am afraid that I am not required to release all of the information requested. Please find attached.
REASONS FOR DECISION
The withheld information is exempt by virtue of the following exemptions
Section 31(1)(g)(2)(b) – Law enforcement
Section 40(2) – Personal Information
These exemptions and explanatory notes are shown here:
In line with the above, I am required to complete a Prejudice Test/Public Interest Test (PIT) on disclosure. Please find this PIT attached [527A_PIT_01].
Section 40(2) is an absolute and class based exemption if to release the information exists would breach the third party’s data protection rights. In this case to release this personal information would not constitute fair processing of the data. As this exemption is class based I am not required to identify the harm in disclosure and in this instance I believe that the right to privacy outweighs any public interest in release.