Questions relating to the Direct Entry Detective Constable Pathway scheme

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.027429

I note you seek access to the following information:

Since the launch of the Direct Entry Detective Constable Pathway scheme:

How many people have joined the scheme?
How many recruits have completed the scheme and qualified as Detective Constables?
What is the average age of entrants?
What is the average age of Detective Constables qualifying from the scheme?
What is the age of the youngest qualified Detective Constable through the scheme?
What is the age of the oldest qualified Detective Constable through the scheme?

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)&(3A)(a) - Personal data

Reason for decision

- What is the age of the youngest qualified Detective Constable through the scheme?
- What is the age of the oldest qualified Detective Constable through the scheme?

Section 40(2)&(3A)(a) - Personal Information - provides that any information to which a request for information relates, is exempt information if the first condition of Section 40(3A)(a) is satisfied. The first condition of Section 40(3A)(a) states that personal information is exempt if its disclosure would contravene any of the data protection principles.

There are six principles that are set out in Article 5(1)(a) of the UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) that dictate when the processing of personal data is lawful. The first principle requires that any processing of personal data must be lawful, fair and transparent. Under Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, the disclosure of personal data is considered to be lawful if:

a. There is a legitimate interest in the disclosure of that personal data.
b. The disclosure of the personal data is necessary to meet that legitimate interest.
c. The disclosure would not cause unwarranted harm to the data subject.

Having given regard to the legitimate interest test, I have found that:

a. The provision and publication of the age of the youngest/oldest qualified Detective Constable through the Direct Entry Detective Constable Pathway, would provide factual information about this aspect of the MPS recruitment process.

b. This disclosure of the requested personal data is necessary to satisfy the legitimate interest identified at point a.

c. 1,773 individuals have joined the MPS since January 2021 on the Direct Entry Detective Constable Pathway. Of the 1,773 individuals that have joined through the scheme, 3 have completed the pathway (2 years) and subsequently been confirmed in rank as a Detective Constable. To provide the age of the youngest/oldest qualified Detective Constables would accordingly, be likely to allow a person to attribute an age to an identifiable person, should that person know one or more of the individuals that have qualified through the Direct Entry Detective Constable Pathway. Should a person know all 3 qualified Detective Constables, the ability to attribute an age to an identifiable individual would be straightforward. It is unlikely that each officer would expect the MPS to release information that would allow their ages to be established. Given this, I have found that the release of the requested information would be unexpected and potentially distressing to them.

Disclosure

- Since the launch of the Direct Entry Detective Constable Pathway scheme:
- How many people have joined the scheme?

1,773 individuals have joined the MPS since January 2021 on the Direct Entry Detective Constable Pathway.

- How many recruits have completed the scheme and qualified as Detective Constables?

Three individuals have completed the pathway (2 years) and subsequently been confirmed in rank as a Detective Constable, having completed and passed the National Investigators Exam (NIE). They are now accredited as Professionalising Investigation Programme Level 2 (PIP2) investigators.

- What is the average age of entrants?

The average age of Direct Entry Detective Constable recruits was 26.3 years of age at the point of joining the MPS.

- What is the average age of Detective Constables qualifying from the scheme?

The average age of Direct Entry Detective Constable recruits is 27 years of age at the point of qualification.