FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 12082

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 24 June 2019.  Please find below the response to your request:

I am seeking help in a research project into the structures of Police Forces/Constabularies in the UK and hope that you will be able to assist.

I understand that most areas organise themselves in a structure similar to:

1.         Force

2.         (Division) for very large populations

3.         Local Police Area

As an example:

Thames Valley has 12 local areas and no divisions

My request then is:

Under the Freedom of Information Act please supply details of the structure of West Mercia Police

Showing each local police area and the division each is part of, if the local police areas are part of a division.

Reply:

Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires West Mercia Police, 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 exemption applicable to the information is:

S.21 - Information reasonably accessible by other means.

This is an absolute, class based exemption.

The information that you require is already available on the West Mercia Police website here.  West Mercia Police is split into 5 Policing Areas which each have their own Safer Neighbourhood Teams (local areas) within them.