FOI 338192
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 338192
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 31st May 2024. Please find below the response to your request:
I would like to know the full costs incurred by West Mercia police in their pursuit of a gross misconduct case against PC Ellingford and SC Holden, I would like this to include all resources used to bring this car along with all costs to pursue it to a full 4 day hearing and the rooms booked at the Ramada
hotel in Telford along with all solicitors / barrister costs
Reply
West Mercia Police hold some of the information you have requested. The OPCC will hold some information as they hold specific budgets in relation to Independent Panel Members, Police Misconduct Hearings and associated costs. Information on how to make a request to the OPCC can be found https://www.westmercia-pcc.gov.uk/key-information/freedom-of-information/
Your request for information has been considered in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the Act”), and I am not obliged to provide the information requested.
S.12(1) of the Act states that a public authority is not obliged to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying with the request would exceed the “appropriate limit”. For police forces in England and Wales, the "appropriate limit" is £450 or 18 hours of work as set by the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004.
The information you have requested is not available in a readily retrievable format. To gain the full costs covered would not be possible for example hours accumulated on the case by PSD is not recorded to a specific case and is part of their routine daily job. In order to ascertain whether the information you have requested is held would take in excess of 18 hours as would need to reach out across the force to ascertain everyone involved and whether that information is recorded is unknown.
In accordance with s.17(5) of the Act, this acts as a Refusal Notice.
However, In accordance with Section 16 of the Act I have a duty to provide advice and assistance in relation to your request and can provide the information regarding the legal costs as this was retrieved during our initial research. This should not be taken as a precedent that additional information would be supplied outside of the time/fees legislation for any subsequent requests.
Legal Costs: £8245.92 (inclusive of VAT)