Freedom of Information Act Request No 595/2008-3676

Freedom of Information Act Request No 595/2008-3676

DEVON & CORNWALL

C O N S T A B U L A R Y

RECORD 1

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST NO 595/2008-3676

Please provide the following information:

(1) The number of complaints made to the DCPA in relation to alleged homophobic incidents involving serving police officers in the DCC for the past 5 years,

(2) Clarification on the resolution of the above complaints,

(3) A copy of the policy relating to the investigation of complaints concerning a homophobic element, against a serving police officer or civilian in the forces employ,

(4) Details of LGBT bodies, groups etc. that the authority liaise with, in order to ensure the needs of the LGBT community are being met.

The Diversity, Performance and Analysis and the Professional Standards Departments have provided the following information:

(1) The number of complaints made to the DCPA in relation to alleged homophobic incidents involving serving police officers in the DCC for the past 5 years,

Financial Year /
Resolution of complaint
Unsubstantiated / Dispensation / Local Resolution
April 03 to March 04 / 1 / 0 / 0
April 04 to March 05 / 1 / 1 / 0
April 05 to March 06 / 3 / 2 / 0
April 06 to March 07 / 1 / 3 / 1
April 07 to March 08 / 0 / 0 / 0
April 08 to date / 2 (not yet resolved)

(2) Clarification on the resolution of the above complaints

Please see question 1 as above.

(3) A copy of the policy relating to the investigation of complaints concerning a homophobic element, against a serving police officer or civilian in the forces employ

Force Policy D21 is being re-written to accommodate introduction of new Police (Conduct) Regulations 2008 and will be published on the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary by spring 2009.

Therefore I have chosen to exempt this information under Section 22 (Information intended for future publication).

Public Interest Test

Section 22 requires the application of a public interest test before this exemption can be claimed. The public interest test has been applied as follows:

It is not in the public interest to release the information in its current state as it will not contain the fully updated information and therefore will have very little use. It is more appropriate to advise the requester that the information will be available in the near future in full and up to date on the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary website.

The Force currently follows investigatory advice contained in Independent Police

Complaints Commission Statutory guidance which is in the public domain and obtainable through IPCC website.

http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/ipcc_complaintsleaflet.pdf

(4) Details of LGBT bodies, groups etc. that the authority liaise with, in order to ensure the needs of the LGBT community are being met.

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary liase with the following groups, in a variety of ways:

We work with the LGBT Independent Advisory Group, which has representatives for all over Cornwall. We also link with individuals to discuss issues personal to them and the groups/people they associate with.

Barqdos

/ Various venues across the Constabulary
Outback/Lesbian Line / Respect North Devon
Young People Cornwall / FFLAG
Fusion / LGB Health Project - NHS
'out camp' / Connexions
Broken Rainbow / Social Services
Gay Christian Movement / GIRES
Number1centre / Western Boys
Eddystone Trust / Beaumont trust
Intercom Trust / Gender Trust
Plymouth Pride Forum / No3 B&B TIVERTON
Curvies (Devonport Lesbian Group) / PCT