Question
1 When someone applies for employment at the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s Office are they asked to declare any link they have to a Police Force in the UK? The link can be by a relation or a partner or by former employment.
2 I would expect this to be recorded. Is it?
3 If it is recorded is it possible to let me know how many of the current staff employed in the Commissioner’s Office have one or both of the links described in Question 1?
Answer
I can confirm that in relation to question 1 and 2, when applicants apply for employment with the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, they are not asked to declare any links they may have to a Police force in the UK either through a partner or family member. The application process does require applicants to declare if they are currently employed by the Northamptonshire Police and all candidates are asked to provide their employment history and referees. This information is only recorded on candidate’s application forms.
Once someone has been offered employment with the OPFCC, they are required to complete a vetting form and depending on level of vetting they are subjected to, they may have to declare any link they may have to a police force in the UK either through relationship with a partner or family member. Vetting is undertaken by the Force’s Information Unit and therefore this information is not held by the OPFCC.
Whilst the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) and Northamptonshire Police are two separate legal entities, the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police assists the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner by making available resources delegated to the Force by the Commissioner which includes HR services. Northamptonshire Police’s Information Unit may hold some of the information you are seeking. They can be contacted via:
Northamptonshire Police’s Information Unit, Force Headquarters, Wootton Hall, Northampton, NN4 0JQ / freedomofinformation@northants.pnn.police.uk
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to: Nicci Marzec, Monitoring Officer, Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Darby House, Darby Close, Park Farm Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, NN8 6GS. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Question
Can you advise what terms if any you had to comply with if you were supported by a political party at the last crime commissioner’s election in regard to deposit paid by your political party.
Can you advise if you have had to donate or been asked a percentage of your crime commissioners’ yearly salary back to the political party who supported you in your crime commissioner’s campaign. If so how much?
Can you advise if the £5000 deposit required by regulations to stand was returned to your political party and if so how long did it take to be returned.
Can you advise if you kept the £5000 deposit? If so was it a gift and by whom?
Can you advise if you have donated any sums of money to the political party who supported you once you were elected as crime commissioner.
Answer
Following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information requested is not held by the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
The Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) is a politically restricted organisation and is not involved in any way in the election process of any of the candidates for the role as Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for the county.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to: Nicci Marzec, Monitoring Officer, Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, East House, Wootton Hall, Northampton, NN4 0JQ. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Question
Please could you endeavour to answer the following questions within 20 working days, as specified under its clauses:
Please can you break down the following information for the financial years: 2015/6, 2016/7, 2017/8, 2018/9 and 2019/20. Can you also please provide me the information for the period between 1 April 2020 and 28 February 2021.
Q1) How many “political advisers” were appointed by your force area’s PCC over the stated period?
1a) Please can you tell me the name of the serving PCC at the time who hired such advisers, the combined yearly salaries of said political advisers (£), their full names and dates of appointment (in the format- DD/MM/YYYY).
1b) If the PCC had a deputy PCC below them, how many “political advisers” were appointed by the deputy PCC(s) over the stated period, and how many of them were party political office holders or active party members (please state) at the time of appointment?
For Q1b, could you please tell me the name of the political party (for example, but not limited to: the Labour Party, the Conservative Party) or party political office said adviser(s) belonged to.
Answer
Following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that no “political advisers” were appointed by the PFCC for Northamptonshire over the requested stated period.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to: Nicci Marzec, Monitoring Officer, Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, East House, Wootton Hall, Northampton, NN4 0JQ. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Question
1. How many reports did you receive from whistleblowers in 2019 and in 2020?
2. How many people do you have in your organisation that are trained/permitted to take reports from whistleblowers?
3. What training have the people in question number 2 received in whistleblowing?
4. What cost, if any, was there for this training?
5. Which organisation delivered each course?
6. What is the name of the person that arranged this training and what is their email address?
7. What methods do you have for whistleblowers to contact a person that is authorised to take their report and what are the specific details of these, i.e., email addresses, telephone numbers etc?
8. What are the email addresses for the people authorised to receive whistleblower reports?
9. How many whistleblowers have left the organisation within 12 months of making a report?
10. How many whistleblowers have made an allegation of ‘detriment’ against your organisation?
Answer
I am writing to advise you that, following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is held by the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
How many reports did you receive from whistleblowers in 2019 and in 2020? Zero
How many people do you have in your organisation that are trained/permitted to take reports from whistleblowers?
There are a number of ways in which staff can make such reports and it is for the individual to choose which method is the right one for them. One method is to report the matter direct to line management. There are currently nine members of staff within the OPFCC with line management responsibilities. Further details of the Whistle Blowing Policy can be found on our website at: Whistle-Blowing-Policy.pdf (northantspfcc.org.uk)
What training have the people in question number 2 received in whistleblowing?
No current Member of the OPFCC have received specific training in relation to Whistle Blowing.
What cost, if any, was there for this training? N/A
Which organisation delivered each course? N/A
What is the name of the person that arranged this training and what is their email address? N/A
What methods do you have for whistleblowers to contact a person that is authorised to take their report and what are the specific details of these, i.e., email addresses, telephone numbers etc?
Please refer to the answer to question two for details of the OPFCC’s Whistle Blowing Policy
What are the email addresses for the people authorised to receive whistleblower reports? Please refer to the answer to question two for details of the OPFCC’s Whistle Blowing Policy
How many whistleblowers have left the organisation within 12 months of making a report? Zero
How many whistleblowers have made an allegation of ‘detriment’ against your organisation? Zero
Question
I am seeking an update on the investigation into Northamptonshire council and £13m funds. Has Mr Mold departed his position? Under the FOI I request all information relating to this case please.
Answer
Following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information requested is not held by the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
The Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) and Northamptonshire Police are two separate legal entities. Information regarding operational policing matters is the responsibility of Northamptonshire Police, therefore the OPFCC does not hold any of the information you have requested. Northamptonshire Police’s Information Unit may hold some of the information you are seeking.
If you have not already done so, then you may wish to write Northamptonshire Police’s Information Unit, Force Headquarters, Wootton Hall, Northampton, NN4 0JQ / freedomofinformation@northants.pnn.police.uk
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to: Nicci Marzec, Monitoring Officer, Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Darby House, Darby Close, Park Farm Industrial Estate, Wellingborough. NN8 6GS. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.