In accordance with section 1(1) (b) of the Act our response is
provided below;
Suites (with addresses):
Manor Park (Northern) Custody Centre
Manor Farm Road
Runcorn
WA7 1TD
Blacon (Western) Custody Centre
Blacon Avenue
Chester
CH1 5BD
Middlewich (Eastern) Custody Centre
Pochin Way
Middlewich
CW10 0GY
Publically available telephone numbers are: Via Call Management
Bureau on 01244 350000 or 0845 458 0000.
In relation to direct dial telephone numbers. Your request for
this information has now been considered and I am not obliged to
supply the information. Section 17 of the Freedom of Information
Act 2000 requires the Cheshire Constabulary, when refusing to
provide such information (because the information is exempt) to
provide you 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.
Reasons for Decision:
This information is exempt by virtue of the following
sections:
Section 31(1)(a)(b)(c) Law Enforcement where the release of
information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention
and detection of crime, the apprehension or prosecution of
offenders and/or the administration of justice.
In this case, it is argued that the evidence of harm arises from
the need for ease of communication between the custody suite and
the Solicitor on duty. Anyone held in custody has the right to
consult a Solicitor at any time (with conditions attached) and it
is the Custody Officer that would make the call when necessary.
(Requirements such as this can be found as part of the 'Duty
Solicitor Scheme' run by the Criminal Defence Service (part of the
Legal Services Commission).
The custody suite does not have a public facing role and there
is no requirement, as a consequence, for contact details to be
disclosed into the public domain. (Either direct telephone numbers
or internal extension number via a main switchboard).
Disclosure may result in the normal priorities and work flow of
the unit being disrupted if members of the public become aware of
the unit's contact details and use them rather than going through
normal policing channels. This could become a significant issue if
malicious intent or deliberate obstruction was behind the reason
for the request, as it would lead to the law enforcement function
of the force being compromised and lives put at risk.
Public Interest Test
Factors favouring disclosure:
There are no factors favouring disclosure to be considered.
Factors favouring non-disclosure
Efficient and effective conduct of the service. The role of the
custody officer and custody staff could be seriously compromised by
the release of this information. Their duties are clear and precise
being governed both by legislation, statutory guidance and good
practice guidance. To disrupt their work in having to deal with
unnecessary and possibly frequent telephone calls would compromise
those three key areas of law enforcement set out in the
exemption.
Balancing Test
In this case, there are no factors favouring the disclosure of
the information you have requested. However, there is a very strong
factor favouring non-disclosure: the efficient and effective
conduct of the force. The Custody units in question are not a
public facing units and there no requirement for members of the
public to be able to contact this unit directly.
Current internal procedures for referring callers to custody
units are established and effective and providing the contact
details into the public domain may result in the work of the units
being interrupted and the unit's performance being compromised.
This may ultimately put the policing purposes at risk and
jeopardise the Constabulary's ability to function effectively in
this area of operation.
As such, it is my decision that tin all the circumstances of the
case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs
the public interest in disclosing the information.