Information
FOI Request 17062026-1 – Force Vetting Review 2024 Author
I write regarding the force vetting review published in August 2024. This appears to be hosted on the OPFCC website but carried out by Northants Police. The issues concerned relate to statements and actions made by staff within the employ of the OPFCC.
Please confirm the following:
1) The name and rank of the author of the review.
2) If different from above, the name and rank of the requestor of information or the liaison between Northants Police when requesting this information from OPFCC and communicating with OPFCC.
3) The name and role/position of the person within OPFCC who provided this information to Northants Police.
4) The name and role/position of the person within the OPFCC who performed checks to verify information being provided to Northants Police.
5) If the CEO Jonny Bugg performed any due diligence that the information provided by OPFCC was accurate before allowing this web page to be published hosting the review.
6) If the PFCC Danielle Stone performed any due diligence that the information provided by OPFCC was accurate before allowing this web page to be published hosting the review and providing media interviews repeating content provided.
7) When the OPFCC became aware that the statement of seeing a DV certificate on page 4 was inaccurate on the basis that no DV certificate exists that was provided to the OPFCC, due to no DV process being paid for and taking place.
8) What steps the OPFCC have taken to correct this error, with either their own web page or Northants Police.
9) What steps the OPFCC have taken to report the assertion by Staffordshire Police that DV had taken place as fraudulent.
10) Contingent on the above, what documented processes exist for reporting fraudulent assertions by a different force, providing such documents.
Response
I can confirm the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner does hold some of the information requested. The report entitled “Pre‐Employment Checks and Vetting Review” was commissioned by the then Acting Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet and undertaken by Northamptonshire Police whilst the OPFCC did assist the Force in relation to supplying some clarification relating to the appointment process for Mr Adderley, it was not involved in the drafting of the report.
The Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and Northamptonshire Police are two separate legal entities. Information regarding operational policing matters is the responsibility of Northamptonshire Police, therefore the OPFCC does not hold any such information. Northamptonshire Police’s Information Unit may hold some of the information you are seeking. If you have not already done so, then you may wish to write to their Freedom of Information and Data Protection Team, Information Unit, Force Headquarters, Wootton Hall, Northampton, NN4 0JQ / [email protected]
1) The name and rank of the author of the review.
No Information held, the report was commissioned and written by Northamptonshire Police.
2) If different from above, the name and rank of the requestor of information or the liaison between Northants Police when requesting this information from OPFCC and communicating with OPFCC.
The OPFCC was approached by the Head of the Force’s Professional Standards Department Detective Superintendent Liz Wilcox to provide information relating to the recruitment process.
3) The name and role/position of the person within OPFCC who provided this information to Northants Police.
This is information was provided by the Chief Executive Jonny Bugg and the Director for Delivery Paul Fell.
4) The name and role/position of the person within the OPFCC who performed checks to verify information being provided to Northants Police.
Please see answer to question 3.
5) If the CEO Jonny Bugg performed any due diligence that the information provided by OPFCC was accurate before allowing this web page to be published hosting the review.
The OPFCC Chief Executive was satisfied that all information provided by the OPFCC was accurate.
6) If the PFCC Danielle Stone performed any due diligence that the information provided by OPFCC was accurate before allowing this web page to be published hosting the review and providing media interviews repeating content provided.
The PFCC was not involved in the collation or sharing of information.
7) When the OPFCC became aware that the statement of seeing a DV certificate on page 4 was inaccurate on the basis that no DV certificate exists that was provided to the OPFCC, due to no DV process being paid for and taking place.
This issue was the subject of a previous Freedom on Information request ref 2602205-1 in which a copy of a letter confirming Mr Adderley’s DV clearance was provided to you. In the spirit of transparency, I have attached a copy to this response. In addition to this, the response to the FOI request ref 2602205-1 also made it clear that Nick Adderley had received Developed Vetting clearance before taking up his role with Northamptonshire Police. See the link below for further information.
8) What steps the OPFCC have taken to correct this error, with either their own web page or Northants Police.
Please see answer to question 7
9) What steps the OPFCC have taken to report the assertion by Staffordshire Police that DV had taken place as fraudulent.
Please see answer to question 7
10) Contingent on the above, what documented processes exist for reporting fraudulent assertions by a different force, providing such documents.
Vetting Police Officers is a matter for the Force’s vetting team therefore the OPFCC does not hold the information requested.
