Stop Search Scrutiny Panels (423A/21)
Request
I would like to request the following information- please can you answer every question and sub-question concisely and as I have requested:
Q1) Does your police force, as of the current date, have an Independent Stop and Search Scrutiny Panel?
1a) If yes: How often do they meet? I) What date (DD/MM/YYYY) was the panel first operational? II) How many of the people currently on the panel are from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background? (could you also tell me the total number of people on the panel as of the current date).
1b) If your force does have such a panel, are panel members made to review a sample of stop and search records and related body-worn video footage at meetings? This can be a simple Yes or No answer.
1c) If your force does have such a panel, what sort of mandatory training do panel members receive in order to perform their role?
1d) If your force does not currently have an operational Independent Stop and Search Scrutiny Panel, have official plans been drawn up that would see the implementation of one in the future? (If so, please specify when)
Q2) Does your force provide body-won video cameras to your officers? If so, to which ones, and is its use mandatory for specific activities (for example, but not limited to: during stop and searches- please specify)?
2a) If they are indeed provided to officers, between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021, how often did your police force review body-worn video footage as part of your internal monitoring and external scrutiny of stop and search and use of force?
Response
Our data are not organised in such a way as to allow us to provide this information within the appropriate (cost) limit within the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act (see ‘Reason for Decision’ below).
Although excess cost removes the force’s obligations under the Freedom of Information Act, as a gesture of goodwill I have supplied information, relative to your request, retrieved before it was realised that the fees limit would be exceeded (see attached file 423A/21 attachment). I trust this is helpful, but it does not affect our legal right to rely on the fees regulations for the remainder of the request.