Interpreters & NRPSI

I am writing to request the following information pursuant to the FOI 2000:

1. How many assignments requiring a face-to-face interpreter were there in Cheshire Constabulary between the 1st January 2010 and the 31st December 2010?

2. How many of these assignments were carried out by interpreters from the National Register of Public Service Interpreters, NRPSI?

In accordance with section 1(1) (a) of the Act our response is provided below;

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.

The information from 1st January 2010 to 30th September March 2010 is exempt in accordance with:

Section 21 (1) Information reasonably Accessible By Other Means

Please see the below web page link:  Interpreters and Translation Page

The information from 1st October 2010 to 31st December 2010 is exempt in accordance with:

Section 22 (1) (a) Information intended for future publication.

Information is exempt information if the information is held by the authority with a view to its publication by the authority, or any other person, at some future date (whether determined or not).

If you would care to look at the below web page link you will see the information that has thus far been published. This information will be updated quarterly. For the specific information you have requested covering the period 1st October 2010 to 31st December 2010 will be published during the course of the next month.

Public interest considerations

Considerations in favour of immediate disclosure.

The general arguments in favour of promoting transparency and accountability are apparent and in particular transparency over financial affairs.

Considerations in favour of following original schedule

The authority having already determined the public interest in disclosure has set out a reasonable publication schedule to ensure fairness.

To divert resources in favour of immediate disclosure would prejudice other items of public interest.

Immediate disclosure in favour of the applicant would be unfair to others.

In all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information