Sanction Detection Targets

To obtain the data required to undertake my thesis please see below a Freedom of Information request (being sent to every force in England and Wales) requesting the following:

As it relates to any recorded crime and sanction detection targets in the annual policing plan/delivery plan 2006/07 - 2010/11 inclusive.

1) Details of the target as set out in the plan

2) The role and rank of the person given responsibility for achieving each target

3) Monthly performance against the target for the period the target was in place

4) Monthly performance against the target for the 2 complete financial years prior to the target and the two complete financial years since the target.

5) Monthly breakdown of sanction detections (charges, cautions etc.) for each target, where appropriate.

i.e. the number of each sanction detection for the crime classification for the year it was a target and the 2 years pre and post target period.

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

From our preliminary assessment, we estimate that compliance with your request would exceed the appropriate costs limit under section 12 of the Freedom of information Act 2000. This is currently £450 The basis for this is set out by one of our researchers as follows:

We've done some initial investigation into this request. We've tracked down copies of the Policing Plan targets for the years requested which has taken 3 hours in itself. Having now looked at how many targets there were relating to crime & sanction detections, I do not believe we could complete this request within the 18 hour limit. For 2006/07 alone there were 9 different targets & the requester has asked for 5 years worth of data for each target - this needs to be split by month & by sanction detection disposal. Also during each year the targets have changed to focus on different areas & for one year the targets were all based on a percentage reduction of the previous year's performance so those would have to be calculated manually. Another factor is that different BCU's had their own targets during some years so we'd need to supply data for each one.

It is estimated that to carry out this research would exceed the appropriate limit. Your request is therefore refused.

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 appropriate limit is defined in the Data Protection and Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004, which is covered by statutory Instrument Number 3244 of 2004. Furthermore, Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows a public authority to refuse to respond to a request for information where the cost of compliance would exceed the appropriate limit as defined by the above mentioned regulations.

I am unable at this time to offer you a realistic alternative to obtain the data you seek.