Information
FOI Request Ref 02112022-1 – Legally Qualified Chairs
Request
Between the 1st of January 2022 and 30th of June 2022, please provide the following information
a) How much has been paid by the force to LQCs between the above dates for payment for their role as an LQC at police misconduct hearings please provide a total figure
b) How many LQCs are at the forces disposable as of the 28th of October 2022. Please also provide the name.
c) what has been the largest payment made to an LQC during the above period
How much has been paid by the force to Independent Panel Members between the above dates for payment for their role as Independent Panel Members at police misconduct hearings
b) How many Independent Panel Members are at the forces disposable as of the 28th of October 2022
c) what has been the largest payment made to an Independent Panel Member during the above period
Response
I am writing to advise you that, following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that some of the information you requested is not held by the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
1.Between the 1st of January 2022 and 30th of June 2022 Please provide the following information
a) How much has been paid by the force to LQCs between the above dates for payment for their role as an LQC at police misconduct hearings please provide a total figure – £5003.18
b) How many LQCs are at the forces disposable as of the 28th of October 2022. Please also provide the name.
The East Midlands currently has a list of 7 Legally Qualified Chairs (LQCs) which is currently maintained on our behalf by the Lincolnshire OPCC, who inform Northamptonshire which LQC is next on the list and available to sit on gross misconduct hearings. The names of the individuals on the list of LQCs are exempt from disclosure under the Act, pursuant to the provisions of Section 40(2) – Personal Information. This is an absolute class based exemption which does not require a Public Interest Test and disclosure of the information would be a breach of the First Principle of the Data Protection Act 2018. The names of the individual LQCs can be made publicly available, on request, following the conclusion of any gross misconduct hearing, subject to approval from the individual concerned.
c) what has been the largest payment made to an LQC during the above period. £2137.56
How much has been paid by the force to Independent Panel Members between the above dates for payment for their role as Independent Panel Members at police misconduct hearings – £519.50
b) How many Independent Panel Members are at the forces disposable as of the 28th of October 2022 – 2, with a further 4 undergoing vetting and training process with a view to being able to sit on panels early 2023.
c) what has been the largest payment made to an Independent Panel Member during the above period – £454.50
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to: Nicci Marzec, Monitoring Officer, Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Darby House, Darby Close, Park Farm Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, NN8 6GS.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications. If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
