Officers suspended on full pay
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.21.022361
I note you seek access to the following information:
Can you provide details of the numbers of the total number of police officers with associated rank who are suspended on full pay.
I also like the number who have been suspended for more than one year; two years three years; four years and the number suspended for five years or more with associated ranks.
I would also like details of the reasons why officers are suspended and the total annual cost to the Metropolitan Police in terms of salary
Decision
I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:
Section 40(2)(3)&(4) – Personal Information
Reason for decision
Section 40(2)(3)&(4) - Personal Information are absolute exemptions which means that the legislators have identified that harm would be caused by any release. In addition there is no requirement to consider the public interest test.
I have decided that to provide correlated data could identify individuals, as our data returned low numbers.
I have made the decision to disclose the information you are seeking, however, due to extremely low figures, I am unable to breakdown the data to the level you are seeking. This is because extremely low figures have been located in relation to some ranks and some suspension periods.
To reduce the risk with disclosure, I have provided uncorrelated data. I have therefore decided to provide a total number for constables, and a separate total figure for officers at the rank of sergeant and above. I have also provided separate tables for period of suspensions and reason for suspensions.
Disclosure
- Can you provide details of the total number of police officers who are suspended on full pay.
As of 21/12/2021 there were 21 police officers suspended on full pay.
- Rank who are suspended on full pay
| Current suspensions by rank as of 21/12/2021 | |
| Constables (PC) | Supervising Ranks (DS and above) |
| 18 | 3 |
Terms:
PC – Police Constable
DS – Detective Sergeant
- Officers suspended for more than one year, two years, three years, four years and the number suspended for five years or more.
| Currently suspended (as of 21/12/2021) | |
| 13-18 Months | 6 |
| 19-24 Months | 4 |
| Over 24 Months | 4 |
- Reasons why officers are suspended
| Reason (as of 21/12/2021) |
| Confi - Confidentiality |
| DC - Discreditable Conduct |
| H&I - Honesty & Integrity |
| UoF - Use of Force |
The cost below is for all 21 officers for the period of their suspension between the dates 7 March 2017 (2016/17 financial year) to 4 Jan 2022 (21/22 FY) which is the date of the FOI request. The cost includes salary, allowances, Employers Pension contribution and Employers National Insurance contribution.
Overall cost to the MPS is £2,020,516.06.