FOI 121451
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 121451
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 4th October 2021. Please find below the response to your request:
For the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and available information for 2021, I would like to be provided with the following information:
1) Please indicate the number of police officers that were disciplined for their conduct on WhatsApp and/or other social media sites.
(a) For each disciplined police officer, please describe briefly what happened.
(b) If the police officer was writing offensive messages/posts, please disclose copies of these messages/posts.
(c) If the police officer was sharing offensive posts, please disclose copies of these posts.
2) Please indicate the number of police officers that were dismissed for their conduct on WhatsApp and/or other social media sites.
(a) For each dismissed police officer, please describe briefly what happened.
(b) If the police officer was writing offensive messages/posts, please disclose copies of these messages/posts.
(c) If the police officer was sharing offensive posts, please disclose copies of these posts.
Reply:-
- Please indicate the number of police officers that were disciplined for their conduct on WhatsApp and/or other social media sites.
2
- For each disciplined police officer, please describe briefly what happened.
- Inappropriate messaging on Whatsapp – Final written Warning
- Inappropriate You Tube video – Written Warning
(b) If the police officer was writing offensive messages/posts, please disclose copies of these messages/posts.
(c) If the police officer was sharing offensive posts, please disclose copies of these posts.
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:
Section 40 (1)(2) Personal information
This is an absolute exemption
Please be advised that any information released as a result of a Freedom of Information request, in effect, is being released into the public domain. Therefore, it could subsequently be published or would have to be made available to any member of the public if it were requested.
Any information that relates to an individual, or from which an individual could be identified, constitutes personal data and to release information that constitutes personal data into the public domain contravenes the Data Protection Act 2018. The information that you have requested relates to personal data and/or personal data of a third party/parties and therefore it is exempt from disclosure, the exemption that applies to this type of information is Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a Refusal Notice for this part of the request.
- Please indicate the number of police officers that were dismissed for their conduct on WhatsApp and/or other social media sites.
No Officers have been dismissed.