MPS Costs for training regarding equality, diversity and inclusion in 2019, 2020 and 2021

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.023228

I note you seek access to the following information:

1) How much has the MPS spent on training regarding equality, diversity and inclusion in the years 2019, 2020 and 2021? Please provide your answer in tabular format, and feel free to delineate years based on MPS budgeting timelines.

2) In each year, how many hours of training did staff receive?

3) Which roles are required to take the training?

4) What aspects of the training are mandatory and for which roles? What aspects if any are optional?

5) Since 2019, which external organisations have been paid to deliver or have supported the MPS with this kind of training? And have any delivered such training unpaid?

6) Please could you provide details of workshop breakdowns which have been delivered to staff in the past year?

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 43(2) - Prejudice to commercial interests

Reason for decision

Section 43(2) - Prejudice to commercial interests - Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).

As the ICO Freedom of Information Awareness Guidance states, "there is a public interest in ensuring that companies are able to compete fairly". The level of competition within the procurement process would be directly affected by the release of the requested information. If commercially sensitive information relating to current suppliers were to be placed into the public domain, then the MPS would not be able to easily obtain aggregated public sector discounts in their future commercial activities. Potential details surrounding these discounted costs would be exposed to the wider market and could result in increased costs. This would be of detriment to the public purse.

It is not in the public interest for the relationship between the MPS and suppliers to be negatively affected. This is due to the fact that harm to, or termination of, these relationships may result in the MPS being unable to procure our preferred choice of training services; which we require to facilitate effective policing. In the event that our current suppliers terminate their relationship with the MPS, we would have to seek out new suppliers and renegotiate terms. By narrowing the range of manufacturers that will supply to us, we would restrict our access to certain services and it may force us to use less preferable suppliers. This could subsequently lead to us having to procure less suitable services or utilise public funds in a less efficient manner.

With regard to commercial interest, we have considered whether the public interest lies in favour of releasing the requested information into the public domain or whether there is sufficient reason to support withholding the requested information. Having considered your request and having examined the associated risk in release, we have found there is a risk to the commercial interests of our suppliers. We believe this risk, as outlined above, is both real and likely.

The exemptions are applicable to Q1 of your request –

1) How much has the MPS spent on training regarding equality, diversity and inclusion in the years 2019, 2020 and 2021? Please provide your answer in tabular format, and feel free to delineate years based on MPS budgeting timelines.

Disclosure

Please see attached document for Q2 – Q4.

Q2 - In each year, how many hours of training did staff receive?
Q3 - Which roles are required to take the training?
Q4 - What aspects of the training are mandatory and for which roles? What aspects if any are optional?

Please see below Q5 – Q6.

Q5 - Since 2019, which external organisations have been paid to deliver or have supported the MPS with this kind of training? And have any delivered such training unpaid?
Q6 - Please could you provide details of workshop breakdowns which have been delivered to staff in the past year?

In terms of central training within the MPS L&D (Learning and Development), there has been no external delivery in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion training.
However, there may have been some training organised locally by BCU’s (Basic Command Units) or other areas within the Met, however L&D do not hold this information. To answer this part of your request would exceed the 18 hours cost limit. We would need to contact all the Units within the MPS and all BCU’s to establish if the data is held.