GPC Visa Purchasing Cards

I am writing to request details under the Freedom of Information Act on GPC Visa purchasing cards spending. I am requesting a copy of transaction data held by the authority through Management Information systems showing basic/Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 data for all cards over a period of six years.

More specifically I am requesting the following:

1.a) For the year 2010/11, the total amount spent using GPC Visa purchasing cards.

1.b) A copy of the Management Information data for each card showing the highest level of data held, from Basic/Level 1, Standard/Level 2 or Enhanced/Level 3, to provide details of all transactions.

2.a) and b) The same for 2009/10

3.a) and b) The same for 2008/09

4.a) and b) The same for 2007/08

5.a) and b) The same for 2006/07

6.a) and b) The same for 2005/06

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

Please see FOI 3159 GPC Transactions

Please note the following: Certain entries have been edited to remove the following,

Personal data: Section 40 (2)

Information in connection with on going investigations Section 31(1) (a) (b) Law Enforcement.

Personal data consisting of staff names have been edited. Those members of staff concerned do not occupy public facing roles and have no expectation of their names being publicised. The Constabulary has a duty of care towards its staff and unnecessary publication would breach that duty of care.

Section 40(2) any information to which a request for information relates is also exempt information if

(a) it constitutes personal data which does not fall within subsection (1), and

(b) either the first or the second condition below is satisfied

(3) The first condition is:-

(a) in a case where the information falls within any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of the definition of "data" in section 1(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998, that the disclosure of the information to a member of the public otherwise than under this Act would contravene:-

(i) any of the data protection principles.

In this case disclosure would breach principles 1 & 2 of the Data Protection Act 1998 and would be unlawful.

Law Enforcement.

Information has been edited that relates to expenditure directly connected with current criminal investigations, such as specialist services and equipment. To disclose such information would seriously prejudice those investigations by giving the criminals involved an insight into areas of the police investigation. If such information were to be acted upon the damage caused to current investigations, which include the most serious crimes such as murder, would be serious even to the extent of bringing some investigations to a halt.

In considering the public interest in the publication of such information the factors in favour include the general public interest in the promotion of transparency and accountability . In addition there is the specific public interests in the financial issues and the expenditure incurred by the Constabulary.

Factors in favour of maintaining the exemption include the strong public interest in avoiding likely prejudice to the prevention and detection of crime. The sensitivity of what is live information has to be taken into account. The public interest will not be served by an ill thought out response to an FOI request that undermines current investigations.

On balance, and considering the amount of information that has been disclosed, for the reminder the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interests in disclosure.