Officers suspended on full pay
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.022673
I note you seek access to the following information:
Can you please provide details of the number of police officers who are currently suspended on full pay.
I would also like details for the number of officers who have been suspended for up 12 months; up to 24 months; up to 36 months; up to 48 months and 60 months or more.
Could you also provide a detail of how many police officers are suspended by rank and sex.
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)(a)(b) and (3A)(a) – Personal Information
Reason for decision
I am unable to break some of the located data down to the level you are seeking because extremely low figures have been located in relation to some ranks, and by gender, and for some suspension periods. To explain further, at your question 2, due to low data we are unable to provide a breakdown for suspensions longer than 24 months as due to low data this disclosure could identify individuals and release sensitive personal information about those individuals into the public domain; a total figure has therefore been provided for suspensions longer than 24 months.
Furthermore, at your question 3 you have asked for a breakdown by rank and sex, however, due to low data located in relation to female officers and supervising ranks it is not possible to disclose the data broken down in this manner, as to do so could identify individuals and release sensitive personal information about those individuals into the public domain. I have therefore decided to instead provide a total number for constables, and a separate total figure for officers at the rank of sergeant and above; gender has been withheld in total.
Section 40(2)(3)&(4) – Personal Information - The requested information contains personal data that I consider exempt under the Act. For example, were we to disclose the length of suspension periods broken down by rank and gender, where low figures for female officers and supervising ranks are realised, it is highly likely that individuals could be identified. Similarly, to provide a breakdown for suspensions up to 36 months, up to 48 months and 60 months or more could identify individuals due to extremely low numbers over 24 months.
Having considered the data, I have found, having considered the legitimate interest test, that disclosure of the additional requested information would not be in accordance with the first principle. Although I understand there is an interest in information about suspended officers I believe this interest has been satisfied by the release of the disclosed information. I do not believe that providing any more details, when there is a reasonable risk that the additional information would identify individuals involved, would add to any wider public debate that may be ongoing.
Furthermore I do not think it would be fair to the individuals concerned if information was disclosed that identified them.
Under Section 40(2) and (3) of the Act, Public Authorities are able to withhold information where its release would identify any living individual and breach the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). I have applied this exemption in that the identity of individuals that may be realised through providing the information broken down in the format you have requested would constitute personal data which, if released, would be in breach of the rights provided by the DPA.
The six principles of the DPA govern the way in which data controllers must manage personal data. Under principle one of the DPA, personal data must be processed fairly and lawfully.
Disclosure
Q1 - Can you please provide details of the number of police officers who are currently suspended on full pay.
As of 20/1/2022 there were 37 police officers suspended on full pay.
Q2 - I would also like details for the number of officers who have been suspended for up 12 months; up to 24 months; up to 36 months; up to 48 months and 60 months or more.
| Currently suspended (as of 20/01/2022) | |
| Up to 12 months | 23 |
| Up to 24 months | 11 |
| Over 24 months | 3 |
Note: As outlined in the reasons for decision section, due to low figures we are unable to provide a breakdown for suspension periods up to 36 months, up to 48 months, and 60 months or more. Please see the legal annex for further information.
Q3 - Could you also provide a detail of how many police officers are suspended by rank and sex.
| Current Suspensions by rank as of 20/01/2022 | ||
| Constables (PC/DC) | Supervising Ranks (PS/DS and above) | |
| 32 | 5 | |
Terms:
PC – Police Constable
DC - Detective Constable
PS – Police Sergeant
DS – Detective Sergeant
Note: As outlined in the reasons for decision section, due to low figures we are unable to provide a breakdown by gender, or for supervising ranks.