FOI 247004

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 247004

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 4^th May 2023.  Please find below the response to your request:

Under the DPA 2018, we are requesting information regarding the training of police officers in relation to the Attorney General’s Guidelines on Disclosure and the NPCC and the CPS Joint Principles for Redaction.

1. During the period 01/01/2021 – 01/04/2022, what format of training did officers receive regarding the above, and what number received this training?  Please can we have the format of training grouped as per the below:

• Face to face
• Online seminar
• Guidance email/briefing note
• Other

1. Following the revised NPCC and CPS Joint Principles for Redaction, was any updated training offered?  Again, please break this down by number and by the nature of the training as follows:

• Face to face
• Online seminar
• Guidance email/briefing note
• Other

1. Regarding redactions, what software is used by your Force and how many licences do you hold for use in relation to CPS Disclosure?

Reply

West Mercia Police holds some of the information you have requested, emails and briefing notes have been given however exact numbers receiving these are not held.

1.During the period 01/01/2021 – 01/04/2022, what format of training did officers receive regarding the above, and what number received this training?  Please can we have the format of training grouped as per the below:

• Face to face
  • Classroom based training
    • CPIA Disclosure Level 1 – 293 attendees
    • CPIA Disclosure Level 2 – 19 completions
    • CPIA Disclosure Level 3 – 114 completions
    • DDP Detective Development Programme – 56 completions
    • PIP 2 Supervisor Manager – 27 completions
    • PCDA Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship Programme – 69 completions
    • DHEP Degree Holder Entry Programme – 42 completions
  • Other
    • ELEARNING (packages supplied by College of Policing). Both the below are mandatory for ALL officers, Specials and Police Staff Investigators):
      • Disclosure and Relevancy – Conducting Fair Investigations – 244 completions
      • Disclosure – Updates to the Attorney General’s Guidelines on Disclosure and the CPIA Code of Practice – 1919 completions

2. Following the revised NPCC and CPS Joint Principles for Redaction, was any updated training offered?  Again, please break this down by number and by the nature of the training as follows:

• Face to face – updates are provided within the face to face training
• Other – the second eLearning programme (as above) was offered as an update and is mandatory for all officers, specials and police staff. This is monitored monthly.

3.Regarding redactions, what software is used by your Force and how many licences do you hold for use in relation to CPS Disclosure?

The software is called e-redact and we purchase 5 licences per year.