FOI Electric Police Vehicles (0424-2022/23)

Request

1. How many electric vehicles does your police force currently have in its fleet? Please break down by make/model and state how many of each there are.
2. What was the total cost of purchasing these electric vehicles?
3. How many police stations with vehicle facilities does your force have?
4. How many of your police stations with vehicle facilities are equipped with electric vehicle chargepoints?
5. How many of your police stations with vehicle facilities have electric vehicles stationed at them?
6. How many of your police stations with vehicle facilities have both electric vehicle chargepoints fitted and electric vehicles stationed at them?
7. What is the total number of electric vehicle chargepoints at police stations with vehicle facilities in your force’s area?
8. Does your force have a policy for charging electric vehicles and, if so, what is it? For example, are these vehicles charged on-site at police stations or are public chargers used?

Response

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 located information to you.

1. NYP have one electric vehicle – Peugeot E Expert.
2. I have decided not to provide the information to you pursuant to Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Commercial Interests. Please see exemption explanation below.
3. NYP operates from approximately 30 recognisable police stations, all of which have some form of ‘vehicle facility’ in the form of parking spaces.
4. 2
5. 1
6. 1
7. 6
8. Onsite charging – we do have access to public chargers should we need them however we are currently self sufficient.

Exemption Explanation.

I am required by law to identify the relevant parts (the exemptions) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) that I have considered when reaching this decision, and I must also explain why these exemptions apply.

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 disclosing the information you have requested would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests.

Public Interest Test

Factors Favouring Disclosure

There is a strong public interest in public sector procurement. Releasing the information would provide the public with the knowledge that the processes are carried out efficiently and the spending of public funds used correctly and resourcefully.

Factors Favouring Non-Disclosure

Releasing procurement information would prejudice the commercial interests of North Yorkshire Police, as it would be likely to adversely affect the bargaining position of North Yorkshire Police during future contractual negotiations, which would result in less effective use of public money.

In additon, releasing information would hinder fair and open competition by the supplier and potentially affect their competitive edge within the market.

Balancing Test

Whilst there is an interest in costs associated with vehicles, information that could prejudice any future commercial interests of the force and that of the supplier would not be released. 

The Force needs to ensure that relationships are not affected, to allow them to negoitiate the best possible price from market leaders and ensure competition is retained within the market environment. 

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.