FOI 410-2025 / Apr 2025 / Workforce
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 410-2025
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 7th April 2025.
Please find details of your request and the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Please note that the data presented below is an unaudited snapshot of unpublished data sourced from "live" systems and is subject to the interpretation of the original request by the individual extracting the data.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to request the following information for the last 3 financial years:
Q1. Provide the number of Police support staff members, split by unit
Q2. Provide the total number of Uniformed Police Officers, split by district or division
Q1 and Q2 response: Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 places two duties on public authorities. Unless exemptions apply, the first duty at Section1(1)(a) is to confirm or deny whether the information specified in a request is held. The second duty at Section1(1)(b) is to disclose information that has been confirmed as being held.
When refusing to provide information, because the information is exempt, Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires Warwickshire Police to provide 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.
I can confirm that Warwickshire Police do hold the information requested; however, the information is not suitable for disclosure in the requested format.
The exemptions applicable are:
Section 31(1)(a)(b) – Law Enforcement
Section 40(2) – Personal Information
Section 40 is an absolute class-based exemption, which does not require evidence of the harm disclosure would cause and does not require consideration of a public interest test. That being said, where Section 40(2) is engaged, in order to make the exemption absolute there needs to be evidence that a Data Protection Principle would be breached by disclosure.
This exemption is engaged where disclosure of information relates to personal data of a third party or could lead to the identification of an individual, either from that information alone or combined with any other information from within the Police Service or public domain. In this case, due to low numbers in some areas, providing the information broken down by unit or division is likely to lead to the identification of an individual. Such a disclosure would breach individuals’ rights under the Data Protection Act 2018, in particular Article 5(1) of the GDPR which states that personal data shall be processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject.
Section 31 is a prejudice-based qualified exemption and as such, there is a requirement to evidence the harm disclosure would cause and to carry out a public interest test. These are set out below.
Evidence of Harm
Requests under the Freedom of Information Act are ‘applicant blind’, which means that the motives of anyone requesting information are not questioned. Therefore, in providing a response to one person, we are expressing a willingness to provide the same response to everyone.
Details of the number of Police Officers and Police Staff working in each individual unit or division, could be of value to a person or persons with criminal or malicious intent, and, along with other information already in the public domain, could equip such individuals with intelligence regarding the capability of the force. Furthermore, it could then allow criminals to map resources across the force, thereby targeting specific areas for criminal activity, as well as enabling such individuals to adapt and counteract law enforcement efforts. This in turn could compromise the effectiveness and success of ongoing or future law enforcement operations, hinder the prevention and detection of crime and place the community at increased unnecessary risk of harm.
Public Interest Test Considerations
Section 31 - Factors Favouring Disclosure
The principle of transparency and accountability supports the disclosure of information to ensure public scrutiny and oversight of law enforcement activities. Disclosing information where it does not pose significant harm, can enhance public understanding and trust in policing.
In certain circumstances, there may be a legitimate public interest in knowing how public funds are allocated and utilised, particularly when it comes to staff and resources. Disclosure can facilitate public debate and scrutiny regarding the expenditure of taxpayer money, and the effectiveness of law enforcement strategies.
Section 31 - Factors Against Disclosure
Disclosing the requested information by individual unit or division, could provide valuable intelligence to those intent on committing crime, by revealing resources used by the force, and leaving such resources vulnerable to being targeted. This in turn could undermine their operational effectiveness and impede the force’s ability to carry out its core duty to ensure that the prevention and detection of crime, apprehension or prosecution of offenders, and administration of justice is carried out appropriately and effectively.
Balance Test
The balancing act between transparency and accountability on one hand and the protection of operational effectiveness, law enforcement, and public safety on the other hand, must be carefully assessed. Each case should be evaluated based on its specific circumstances and the potential impact of disclosure or non-disclosure.
Whilst the value of accountability and the legitimate interest in the public being satisfied in how the force uses public funds is recognised, the non-disclosure of the requested information by individual unit/division helps to protect law enforcement techniques which disclosure could render ineffective or obsolete.
It is not in the public interest to disclose information around law enforcement tactics and operational capability, if that information could be of intelligence value to those intent on committing crime or leave resources vulnerable to being targeted by criminal organisations. The ability to deliver effective law enforcement is of paramount importance, and Warwickshire Police will not divulge information if to do so would have an adverse effect on the force’s ability to prevent and detect crime. In this case, disclosing the information in the requested format would not only affect the force’s ability to do so but would also impact upon its core responsibility of protecting the community it serves and its officers.
Therefore, on balance, it is considered that the public interest in providing the information in the requested format is outweighed by the potential impact release would have on current and future law enforcement activities, and this represents a refusal notice for the requested information broken down by unit or division. Instead, information I am able to provide is set out below by Directorate.
Please be advised that the below information is as of March 31st each year and represent all civilian staff and all officers in the force.
|
Police Staff - 2022 |
Total |
|
Corporate Services |
107 |
|
Enabling Services |
116 |
|
Financial Services |
48 |
|
Local Policing |
298 |
|
Police Crime Commissioner |
12 |
|
Protective Services |
164 |
|
Regional Collaboration |
9 |
|
Grand Total |
754 |
|
Police Staff - 2023 |
Total |
|
Corporate Services |
127 |
|
Enabling Services |
123 |
|
Financial Services |
62 |
|
Local Policing |
316 |
|
Police Crime Commissioner |
15 |
|
Protective Services |
159 |
|
Regional Collaboration |
6 |
|
Grand Total |
808 |
|
Police Staff - 2024 |
Total |
|
Corporate Services |
89 |
|
Data Strategy and Technology |
87 |
|
Enabling Services |
122 |
|
Financial Services |
62 |
|
Local Policing |
390 |
|
Police Crime Commissioner |
17 |
|
Protective Services |
142 |
|
Regional Collaboration |
6 |
|
Grand Total |
915 |
|
Police Officer* - 2022 |
Total |
|
Chief Officers |
5 |
|
Corporate Services |
21 |
|
Enabling Services |
60 |
|
Local Policing |
602 |
|
Protective Services |
341 |
|
Regional Collaboration |
17 |
|
Grand Total |
1046 |
|
Police Officer* - 2023 |
Total |
|
Chief Officers |
4 |
|
Corporate Services |
22 |
|
Enabling Services |
87 |
|
Local Policing |
653 |
|
Protective Services |
324 |
|
Regional Collaboration |
22 |
|
Grand Total |
1112 |
|
Police Officer*- 2024 |
Total |
|
Chief Officers |
4 |
|
Corporate Services |
13 |
|
Data Strategy and Technology |
4 |
|
Enabling Services |
88 |
|
Local Policing |
640 |
|
Protective Services |
369 |
|
Regional Collaboration |
23 |
|
Grand Total |
1141 |
*Represents all police officers in the force.
Q3. Provide the total workforce attrition rate split into resignations, dismissals and retirements
Q3 response:
|
2021/22 |
|
|
Leave Reason |
Total |
|
Dismissal |
14 |
|
Resignation |
188 |
|
Retirement |
59 |
|
Other |
19 |
|
Grand Total |
280 |
|
2022/23 |
|
|
Leave Reason |
Total |
|
Dismissal |
12 |
|
Resignation |
194 |
|
Retirement |
59 |
|
Other |
21 |
|
Grand Total |
286 |
|
2023/24 |
|
|
Leave Reason |
Total |
|
Dismissal |
10 |
|
Resignation |
148 |
|
Retirement |
54 |
|
Other |
14 |
|
Grand Total |
226 |
Q4. Provide the number of workforce absentees between 3-6 months and 6+ months
Q4 response:
|
Sickness |
||
|
Financial Year |
3 to 6 months |
6 + months |
|
2021/22 |
44 |
9 |
|
2022/23 |
30 |
9 |
|
2023/24 |
45 |
8 |
|
Grand Total |
119 |
26 |
Q5. What is the overtime spend
- Overtime spent on specific activities e.g OT resulting from planning an operation; OT bill for all POPS operations in the last 12 months
Q5 response: Please see below overtime figures for the last complete financial year:
|
Financial Year |
Total |
|
2023/24 |
£4,015,884 |
Q6. Please confirm who currently supplies your software for duty management/rostering?
Can you also confirm when that contract ends, and the annual licensing cost for the latest accounting period, plus any additional customisation costs over the last 5 years (if applicable)
Q6 response: The Access Group (Duty sheet) and NECSWS Public Safety trading as SSS Public Safety Ltd.
Details of both contracts can be found in the public domain at the Bluelight Public Contract Register, including contract dates. Please see link below to assist:
https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/contracts
Once you have entered the website please select:
‘Warwickshire Police’ in the Organisation field
Enter WP24-0012 in the Contract Reference field for – The Access Group or WP21-0049 in the Contract Reference field for Origin HR – NECSWS Public Safety.
Q7. Do you use any software for long term workforce planning, outside the software you use for rostering?
Q7 response: No.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible; however, the data is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording systems, therefore care should be taken to ensure data collection processes, and their inevitable limitations are considered when interpreting the information.
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 Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB