Copies of the rules or protocols used by the LRPM & copy of minutes

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.030889

I note you seek access to the following information:
1) A copy of the rules or protocol used by the Local Resource Planning Meeting (LRPM) when deciding whether to move officers between OCUs

2) A copy of the rules or protocol used by the LRPM for deciding whether to rescind a move they have previously authorised

3) A copy of the minutes for the LRPM meeting held in May 2023 (I am happy for any personal data not relating to me to be redacted).”

On the 19 August 2023, the 2 September 2023 and the 9 September 2023, I wrote to you and stated:

“I have now largely completed my response to your request for information, however to ensure that my searches have been complete and accurate, can you confirm which department’s LRPM meeting minutes you wish to obtain access to please? I will then promptly complete your request.”

On the 9 September 2023, you wrote to me and stated:

“The minutes I am after is for the LRPM that would manage transfers from RTPC to Specialist Crime. I believe that this would be the RTPC LRPM, however if the Specialist Crime LRPM also discussed my planned move I would also like those minutes please”

When a request for information is made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act), a public authority is required to inform you, when permitted, whether the information requested is held. It must then communicate that information to you. If a public authority decides that it cannot comply with all or part of a request, it must cite the appropriate section or exemption of the Act and provide you with an explanation. It is important to note that a Freedom of Information Act request is not a private transaction. Both the request itself and any information disclosed are considered suitable for open publication, that is, once access to information is granted to one person under the Act, it is then considered public information and must be communicated to any individual should a request be received. Any information released under the Act is also published upon the MPS website.

Decision

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

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

I have disclosed a copy of the document titled ‘Local Resource Planning - Terms of Reference’ alongside this notice in response to parts 1 and 2 of your request for information.

In response to part 3 of your request, I can confirm that the RTPC and Specialist Crime LRPM meetings held in May 2023 were not minuted. The requested minutes cannot accordingly be considered for release under the Act as they are not held by the MPS. I can confirm however that whilst the LRPM meetings are not minuted, some data about staff is recorded in a series of spreadsheets at the LRPM. Decisions on postings are also made by the Posting Panel as opposed to the LRPM. The Post Panel may accordingly hold records about staff transfers. The information recorded at the LRPM and Posting Panel will, in the main, constitute personal data and while such data may be available to the individual it relates to, it would not be suitable for disclosure under the Act. This is because a disclosure under the Act, represents a willingness to disclose that information to any person upon request. All disclosures made under the Act are also published on the MPS website.

I understand that you may wish to adjust your request to ask for the LRPM spreadsheet and/or any information recorded by the Posting Panel, however I would not advise you to submit such a request under the Act, as personal data (including the personal data of the requester) is covered by a Freedom of Information Act exemption, If you wish to request access to your own personal data, you can submit a right of access request (i.e. a request to obtain your own personal data). If you have already submitted such a request, then my colleagues from that team will be in contact with you in due course.

In answering your request for information under the Act, this notice does not confirm or deny whether your personal information is held by the MPS.