Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information (FoI) Act 2000 received Royal Assent on 30 November 2000.

It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities. This includes central and local government, non-departmental public bodies, the police, the health service and schools, colleges and universities. Any person who makes a request to a public authority for information must be informed whether the authority holds that information and, subject to exemptions, supplied with that information.

The annual Freedom of Information report for 2011/12 is available here.

Under the Act, police authorities are required to have a Publication Scheme which sets out the information that can be made routinely available to the public.

Publication Scheme

All public authorities were required to adopt a publication scheme with effect from 1 January 2009. The Information Commissioner approved a model scheme for police authorities which has been developed in conjunction with the Association of Police Authorities. A copy of the Police Authority's publication scheme can be accessed by following this link.

Freedom of Information Act 2000 Internal Review Procedure

This document sets out the internal review procedure, adopted by Cheshire Police Authority pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. This procedure is based on the Code of Practice on the discharge of public authorities’ functions under Part 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 issued under section 45 of the Act. It is also based on procedural guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
A copy of the procedure can be accessed by following this link.

What we Spend and How we Spend it

This link takes you to Cheshire Constabulary’s annual statement of accounts and budgetary information, its procurement procedures, details of current contracts, tendering opportunities and expenses incurred over £500.

Chief Police Officers (ie Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constables) in Cheshire are paid in accordance with the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) national agreement. Further details can be accessed through the PNB's website

Details of Chief Officer expenses are available on the Constabulary website by following this link

Disclosure Log

A copy of the Authority's disclosure log, setting out requests made to the Authority under the FoI legislation, can be viewed by following this link