FOI Staff numbers (0698-2024/25)
Request
Q1. Could you please provide a breakdown of the numbers of police officers and staff that were employed by North Yorkshire Police across 2 dates?
1 on 1st September 2019
2 on 1st September 2024.
Q2. Please show the number of police officers in terms of numbers in each rank from Constable to Chief Constable.
Q3. Grades not required for Police Staff but please identify the highest grade member of Police Staff role (title).
Q4. Please show an overall breakdown of officers and staff by:
Gender
Ethnicity
Q5. Please could you provide me with the number of staff employed by the Police & Crime Commissioner's Office on the following 2 dates:
1 on 1st September 2019
2 on 1st September 2024
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
The information you have requested is exempt from disclosure pursuant to Sections 14 and 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act).
Section 17 of the Act requires North Yorkshire 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.
Please see exemption explanations below.
Exemption Explanation
Section 21 – Information accessible to the applicant by other means
Rationale for decision
Some of the information you have requested is published on the North Yorkshire Police website using the following links and as such, is exempt under Section 21 of the Act.
Q1, 2, 4 & 5. Statistics on police workforce numbers in the police forces in England and Wales: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2024
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-open-data-tables
Q3. North Yorkshire Police salaries over £58,000:
Section 14 – Vexatious
Rationale for decision
It is acknowledged that whilst the information already published does not cover the exact timeframe you have requested, Section 14 of the Act applies on the basis that a level of duplication would be required to re-run stats for a different date when there is already published data (Section 21 as above).
The ICO guidance on dealing with vexatious requests clarifies that Section 14 can be considered where the request is likely to cause a disproportionate or unjustified level or disruption, irritation or distress.
Section 1(1) does not oblige a public authority to comply with a request for information if the request is vexatious, and no public interest test is required.
Taking into account the above, it is for these reasons that Section 14(1) has also been applied in this case.
Pursuant to Section 17(5) of the Freedom of Information Act this letter acts as a Refusal Notice.
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.