FOI 173143
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 173143
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 16th May 2022. Please find below the response to your request:
Q4 has generated a further request:
Q4. In the last 3 months, how much funding has been specifically allocated to Horse Road Safety and if any, how was it used? Approx £500 was allocated for provision of high vis ‘Pass Safely’ vests for local stables and promotion of the Operation Snap initiative.
Q4.1 Please could you advise how many hi-vis vests where allocated and the cost.
Q4.2 Whilst Data Protection legislation prevents you from revealing individual names, you refer to "local stables" and thus they are not individuals and appear to be businesses that would not have the exemption.
I would therefore like to know the "stables" that received these funds and/or the method of allocation.
The purpose of this question is to be sure that public funding is allocated fairly.
Q4.3 Can you supply exactly what the funding of Operation Snap was used for. For example, if it was road-side signage, where was this placed?
Q4.4 Can you name the individual or position within the police force who is responsible for Horse Road Safety initiatives?
Reply
Q4.1 Please could you advise how many hi-vis vests where allocated and the cost.
West Mercia Police ordered 300 vests at a cost of £1.95 per vest. The first order was for 200 and covered the time frame above, we ordered an additional amount of 100 last month.
Q4.2 Whilst Data Protection legislation prevents you from revealing individual names, you refer to "local stables" and thus they are not individuals and appear to be businesses that would not have the exemption.
I would therefore like to know the "stables" that received these funds and/or the method of allocation.
The purpose of this question is to be sure that public funding is allocated fairly.
No stables received ‘funds’. West Mercia Police used some of our funding to order high vis vests and some op snap promotional material. As this campaign was delivered in partnership with the British Horse Society we have first contacted those stables that are approved BHS members. As part of the pilot a total of 18 stables were approached across Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire with the offer of supplying a number of high vis vests for riders. Five of those stables replied to say they would be interested in having kit so these were sent out to named individuals in March, we did not hear from the remaining. There is some kit remaining so we now plan to contact some additional stables that are not BHS affiliated but also to keep some supplies back to fulfil requests that we may receive from areas that are experiencing any close pass issues. Specific issues have been raised around some areas in Telford & Wrekin, a supply of material has been provided to the rural and business crime officer based at Malinsgate Police Station who is covering some events over the summer and visiting some local stables around that area for distribution.
Q4.3 Can you supply exactly what the funding of Operation Snap was used for. For example, if it was road-side signage, where was this placed?
The funding was used to promote the Operation Snap initiative. We had new postcards designed to incorporate use of cameras by horseriders and we also funded some additional signs to be used on the roads across West Mercia. Decision over the routes where Op Snap posters are used is based on collision data, other reports and on existing submission patterns. Signs were placed on the following roads in 2019;
Worcestershire
A449
A456
A442
A458
A44
A4103
Herefordshire
A4103
A49
A40
A438
A44
Shropshire
A4117
A458
A454
A442
A529
A53
A49
A41
B5062
B5067
Telford & Wrekin
A518
A442
Highways England
A49
A5
These were refreshed in 2020 with a new design of sign. Obviously these do get damaged and are moved sometimes by members of the public but we try to replace them when we get reports of these going missing. The routes are constantly reviewed and some additional sites are added if an issue arises.
Q4.4 Can you name the individual or position within the police force who is responsible for Horse Road Safety initiatives?
West Mercia Police don’t have a specific person responsible for this.
The Road Safety Team work on engagement and campaigns, of which horses using the roads network is a part of. There are rural and business crime officers in each county who have responsibility for working within our more rural communities and we also have identified people who work on the Horse Watch initiative.