FOI Special Constables (0717-2024/25)

Request
If you do not have a Special Constabulary, please inform me by reply to this message (which I will take to be fully fulfilling your obligations under FOI)

Q1. Special Constable Numbers by Patrol Status - October 2024 Please provide the number of Special Constables serving in your force as of the end of October 2024. Where possible, please break this down into the number of APS/DPS Special Constables, and any QSC (irrespective of how many QSC stages have been completed). If your force has not adopted IL4SC, please denote how many officers are IPS or non-IPS.

Additionally, please note how many officers are currently restricted. If this is not possible due to FOI budgetary requirements, this can be omitted.

Q2. Comparison to 2019
Please provide the number of Special Constables (irrespective of patrol status or suspension) serving in your force either in October 2019, or at the closest point you can capture data from (please clarify the month where possible).

Q3. Use of DutySheet System
Please confirm if your force uses DutySheet, and if so, how much your force is paying DutySheet (this can be an estimated annual cost) for the Special Constabulary. Note this does not include Police Cadets, PSVs or any other DutySheet database.

Q4. Budget for Special Constables
Please could you provide figures as to your annual budget for Special Constables forcewide for the 2024-25 financial year?

Q5. Estimated Cost Savings due to Special Constables
If your force has them available, please provide the estimated cost savings your Special Constabulary provides to your force. Note, if the FOI request budget would not allow for this in hours taken to process this request, this question can be omitted.

Q6.Qualifications and specialty courses
Please provide information as to whether your force currently provides the following training courses to your Special Constables, and if so, what IL4SC (or patrol status) level is required to engage in the course:

- Standard Response
- Advanced Response
- Initial Phase Pursuit (IPP)
- Taser
- Method of Entry (forced entry, whether through lockpulling, enforcer or any other forced entry)
- Public Order Level 3
- Public Order Level 2

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information
To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police.  

Decision
I have today decided to disclose the following information to you.

Q1. Current Special Constabulary Establishment October 24 = 69
DPS x 40
APS x 29
There are also 15 student officers currently completing SCLP but not attested.

Q2. Special Constabulary Establishment October 2019 = 91
IPS = 46
Non-IPS = 45

Q3. Yes NYP uses DutySheet.  I am exempting providing the annual costing of this contract pursuant to Section 43(2)  of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please see exemption explanation below.

Q4. Total budget for 2024/25 financial year is £27,180

Q5. I am unable to determine the estimated cost savings to the force due to Special Constables.

Q6. 

Exemption Explanation

Section 43(2) – Commercial Interests
This is a qualified, class based exemption, which requires that I conduct a public interest test to balance the legitimate interests of the public in knowing the information against the interests of non-disclosure. This exemption applies because the disclosure of the requested information would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests.

Public Interest Test
Factors Favouring Disclosure
There is a strong public interest in the efficiency of public sector spending. Releasing the information would provide the public with the knowledge on what the force spend on the subject matter. Disclosure would provide openness, displaying that public funds are being spent correctly and efficiently.

Factors Favouring Non-Disclosure
Disclosure of suppliers products into the public domain would likely deter suppliers from entering future tendering processes and it would put their competition at advantage. This would also impact North Yorkshire Police’s and other force’s ability to conduct fair tendering. Trust would be lost in the forces ability to conduct business and the community would be affected by the force being unable to spend public funds as effectively.

Balancing Test
The disclosure of commercially sensitive information would prejudice the commercial interests of the company involved and may deter them and others from participating in future procurement initiatives. There is a strong public interest against disclosure where that disclosure would be likely to prejudice the Force’s own commercial interests. Disclosure of the information would be likely to adversely affect the bargaining position of North Yorkshire Police during future contractual negotiations relating to current and future contracts which would result in less effective use of public money.

The public interest would not be served where disclosure of commercial information would hinder fair and open competition for public sector contracts. As such the balance is considered in favour of non-disclosure.

Pursuant to Section 17(1) of the Act this acts as a Refusal Notice in relation to the exempted parts of your request.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.