Well I deserve a #SlapSlap for missing this one the first time round.
A notable refusal to supply me with information in relation to Staff Satisfaction Surveys.
The RetiredAndAngry Special Award for the most long-winded refusal to supply information goes to Cambridgeshire Constabulary for this valuable contribution;
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act) requires us to handle all requests in a manner that is blind to the identity of the requestor. Any information released in response to a request is regarded as being published, and therefore in the public domain without caveat. We have completed all searches within Cambridgeshire Constabulary and hereby enclose your response.
Your request for information has now been considered and I am not obliged to supply the information you have requested due to exemptions provided by
the Act.
In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the FOI Act I can confirm that Cambridgeshire Constabulary conducted a staff survey in 2011 and the raw data for that survey is held by the constabulary.
Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires Cambridgeshire Constabulary, when refusing to provide such information (because the
information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.
The exemptions applicable to the information are:
Section 22 – Information Intended for Future Publication
Section 22 relates to information where the authority has made a decision to publish the information but the date for publication has not been reached.
This is a qualified class based exemption and as such I am required to apply a public interest test.
Public Interest Test
Factors Favouring Early Disclosure
There is presently heightened public interest in the inner workings of constabularies due to the situation surrounding policing of high profile public events in 2012.
Factors Favouring Non-Early Disclosure
The Force Executive Board decided at the time of the survey that publication would be made of the results during the 2nd quarter of the 2012/13 financial year and the process for this publication is already in motion. The full findings will be presented to the Board in August 2012 and the publication will be made shortly thereafter, the intention is mid-September 2012.
Early publication of the information contained in the survey would add cost to the process which are unnecessary at this time as well as taking staff away from other duties at a period when there is very high demand.
Balancing Arguments
I am satisfied that there is a robust publication strategy in place to have this information put into the public domain by the end of September 2012. It is my view that the public interest at this time weighs in favour of maintaing the present publication schedule as to publish early would have a disproportionate cost in terms of both finance and manpower abstractions which at a time of increased demand is unacceptable.
In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a Refusal Notice for this particular part of your request.
