Responding and dealing with applicants letters

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.031310

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. Why do you have to give all your personal details on this format, because if I had written a letter you would not have my date of birth?
2. Do you have a Charter Time to respond to letters from the public - and if you do what is that time frame?
3. As 2 above but for letters from MPs.
4. As 2 above but letters to the Commissioner/His Office.
5. Do you have KPIs (key performance indicators) on the above - yes or no?
6. If yes would it be possible to have the KPIs for you last recordable period - say 6 months?
7. If the answer to (5) is no, why don’t you have KPIs for this area?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - Why do you have to give all your personal details on this format, because if I had written a letter you would not have my date of birth?

No recorded information is held on this question. However I am pleased to advise that there are alternative methods of contacting the MPS apart from completing the online Contact Us form, and that date of birth is not a mandatory field on the online form.

Questions 2 and 4 -
Q2 - Do you have a Charter Time to respond to letters from the public - and if you do what is that time frame?
Q4 - As 2 above but letters to the Commissioner/His Office.

There is currently no formal policy held on timeframes for replying to requests and correspondence from members of the public and official sources. However the Met aims to respond to all correspondence in a timely manner and within 15 days, depending upon complexity. Some requests may have a shorter timeframe in order to meet MOPAC’s internal deadlines.

Q3 - As 2 above but for letters from MPs.

No formal policy is held, however the following unofficial guidelines apply:

The Met aims to respond to MP and AM (Assembly Member) correspondence within 10 working days. If we need more time we should inform the MP and AMs and keep them informed. We will always acknowledge receipt of correspondence.

Question 5, 6 and 7 -

Q5 - Do you have KPIs (key performance indicators) on the above - yes or no?
Q6 - If yes would it be possible to have the KPIs for you last recordable period - say 6 months?
Q7 - If the answer to (5) is no, why don’t you have KPIs for this area?

We do not have KPIs for this area. This is because letters to the Commissioner are in most cases directed to the relevant department for resolution and we do not routinely monitor the speed of responses.