FOI 849-2024 / Sep 2024 / Staff networks

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: FOI-849-2024

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 26^th September 2024 as follows:

According to the HMICFRS  (An inspection into activism and impartiality in policing),   there are more than 200 local staff networks across police forces in England and Wales (p 13).  On the same page it states:

"Staff network activity, such as offering advice on, or communicating about, government policy, could lead to a perception that they aren’t impartial."

And;

"Forces need to prioritise their support for networks in line with their recruitment and retention requirements."

https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk%2Fnews%2Fnews-feed%2Fgreater-clarity-on-definition-of-operational-independence-needed-to-maintain-police-impartiality%2F&data=05%7C02%7CFreedom.Information%40warwickshire.police.uk%7C423ff8f1ab1a43788d6f08dcde3c2e52%7Ca324afb60aef47f7a287982ba7311d8a%7C0%7C0%7C638629597318517030%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=N9OuNQs%2FMSJ9LmAWIdMUMqRmz7CC2%2F1jlzfki2BQQbc%3D&reserved=0

1. Please provide a full list of the national and local staff networks associated with your force and specify the amount of money you contributed to each in the financial year 2023/24.

2. Please provide a blank copy of the application form that must be completed by individuals seeking to establish a staff network.

Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in providing the response to your request and for any inconvenience that this may have caused you.  Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.

Q1 response: Our staff support networks (and associated sub-networks / groups) and 2023/24 spend are:

• Armed Forces: £1,000
• Disability: £1,609
• B-Me (Ethnic Minorities): £10,148 (this includes hosting the national NBPA Executive event)
• Christian Police Association: £600
• WoW (Women of Warwickshire): £1,931
• LGBT+: £390

Other networks include:

• Under Disability Umbrella – Dyslexia, Autism, Carers, Hearing Impairment, Sight Loss and Visual Impairment
• Under WoW: Menopause & Peri-menopause Action Group
• Mens’ Wellbeing Network
• Fertility & Adoption

Q2 response: We do not currently have an application form for new staff support networks, our response is therefore ‘no information held’.

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

[email protected]