North Yorkshire Police aim to improve response to Freedom of Information requests

The North Yorkshire force, along with the Durham and Cleveland forces, is reviewing its civil disclosure approach to improve quality and share best practice following a surge in public interest in policing matters and EU data protection reforms placing extra pressure on staff handling Freedom of Information requests.

In a report to the North Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel, its Police and Crime Commissioner said the EU General Data Protection Regulation, which came into force in May, had “generated new challenges for policing generally”, but mostly in the civil disclosure unit.

It states: “The impact of General Data Protection Regulation was more extensive than had been expected, and this has resulted in the complexity of work increasing, therefore taking more time to complete, which has in turn reduced the compliance rate for Freedom of Information responses.

“Generally the data landscape is now much more complex, and there are, rightly, many more assurances which the civil disclosure unit need to feel confident they are disclosing the relevant information.”

The report to the panel states while compliance with meeting Freedom of Information targets had been under 70 per cent in 2015, and an action plan was developed to improve performance, leading to rates improving to almost 80 per cent.

It states the compliance rate for Freedom of Information requests had now dropped, partly following the EU regulations changes, but also due to an increase in the number of civil disclosure requests across the board.

The number of Freedom of Information requests faced by the North Yorkshire force alone is expected to rise to more than 1,400 this year, having stood at 1,046 in 2014.

The report states: “The Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable acknowledge that Freedom of Information compliance has reduced to unacceptable levels, but work is under way to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.”