FOI Disclosure Practices (212-2024/25)

Request

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. My request relates to the improvements and current practices of North Yorkshire Police in the area of evidence disclosure since the widely publicised CPS disclosure scandal.

Specifically, I am seeking the following information:

Q1. Policy and Training Documents:

a) Copies of any updated policies, guidelines, or protocols on evidence disclosure that have been implemented since January 2018.

b) Details of any training programmes or materials provided to police officers and staff regarding disclosure obligations since January 2018.

Q2. Monitoring and Compliance Reports:

a) Summaries or copies of any internal or external audits, evaluations, or reports conducted on North Yorkshire Police's disclosure practices since January 2018.

Q3. Case Management Data:

a) Statistics on the number of cases in which disclosure issues were identified, raised, or resulted in adjournments or miscarriages of justice since January 2018.

Q4. Improvements and Initiatives:

a) Information on any specific initiatives or improvements undertaken by North Yorkshire Police to address disclosure issues since the scandal, and any outcomes or impact assessments of these initiatives or improvements.

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.

Q1a. North Yorkshire Police hold no information in relation to this part of your request. NYP follow the Attorney General guidance (based on the CPIA), as well as NPCC and CoP guidance, we don’t have any North Yorkshire Police specific policies, guidelines or protocols in place on disclosure.

b. January 2021 to June 2021, 1300 officers briefed on Attorney General’s guidance. April to May 2024 500 officers briefed on updated AGg. Regular briefings are conducted via internal communications, and individual officers are provided with feedback on their file submissions, including meeting their disclosure obligations – to extract specific and detailed information would exceed the time allowed under the act.

Q2a. No information held – Disclosure compliance is held by the CPS not North Yorkshire Police

Q3a. No information held – This data is held by the CPS not North Yorkshire Police

Q4a. All disclosure initiatives and improvements have followed national guidelines

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.