FOI 024 / Jan 22 / Emergency boarding up policy
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 024-2022
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 10th January 2022 as follows:
- Please provide me with a copy of your emergency boarding up policy. This will detail how your force intends to secure a property in the event that it has to force entry.
- Please could you also answer the following questions, unless they are contained within the policy:
a) In what circumstances will officers force entry to a property?
b) If entry is forced, will emergency boarding up always be provided? If it won't, please explain why
c) In which circumstances will the police pay for the costs of boarding up? And in which circumstances will they not?
d) Who provides the emergency boarding up service?
e) If the property is inhabited, are the inhabitants given keys to re-enter the property, or are they boarded out?
f) How are inhabitants notified that it is the police who have forced entry to their property?
g) How soon after forced entry is the emergency boarding up provided?
Please see the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Q1 response: Warwickshire Police do not have a formal Emergency Boarding Up policy.
Q2a response: Where there is a concern for safety/welfare or on execution of a warrant.
Q2b response: If the owner/occupier is present or contactable they will be given the option to make their own boarding up arrangements. If they are not present or contactable, boarding up will be provided to make the property secure.
Q2c response: Warwickshire Police will pay where there has been an execution of a warrant. Where there is a concern for safety, the occupant details are passed on to the service provider and the occupant will be invoiced directly from them. Occasionally, police will pay depending on individual circumstances.
Q2d response: An external company called BOING Rapid Secure Ltd, unless the owner/occupier has made their own arrangements.
Q2e response: They are given access if present or, if the occupants are not present, keys are left for them at the local police station.
Q2f response: If there are no occupants at the property, a calling card is left by the officers who are in attendance at the property.
Q2g response: Contact is made by the Control Room to our service provider BOING Rapid Secure Ltd as soon as the property is ready to be boarded up.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB