PIRC Guide to Information
Introduction
The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (the Act) requires Scottish public authorities to produce and maintain a publication scheme. Authorities are under a legal obligation to:
- publish the classes of information that they make routinely available
- tell the public how to access the information and what it might cost.
The PIRC has adopted the Scottish Information Commissioner Model Publication Scheme. You can obtain a copy of the Scheme by contacting us at the address below.
PIRC
2nd Floor, Hamilton House
Caird Park
HAMILTON
ML3 0QA
informationrequests@pirc.gov.scot
Telephone: 01698 542900
The purpose of this Guide to Information is to:
- allow the public to see what information is available (and what is not available) in relation to each class
- state what charges may be applied
- explain how to find the information easily
- provide contact details for enquiries and to get help with accessing the information
- explain how to request information we hold that has not been published
Availability and formats
The information we publish through the model scheme is, wherever possible, available on our website. We offer alternative arrangements for people who do not want to, or cannot, access the information online or by inspection at our premises. For example, we can usually arrange to send information to you in paper copy (although there may be a charge for this).
Exempt information
We will publish the information we hold that falls within the classes of information below. If a document contains information that is exempt under Scotland’s freedom of information laws (for example sensitive personal information or a trade secret), we will remove or redact the information before publication and explain why.
Copyright
Where the PIRC holds the copyright in its published information, the information may be copied or reproduced without formal permission, provided that:
- it is copied or reproduced accurately
- it is not used in a misleading context, and
- the source of the material is identified
Where the PIRC does not hold the copyright in information we publish, we will make this clear.
Charges
This section explains when we may make a charge for our publications and how any charge will be calculated.
There is no charge to view information on our website. We may charge for providing information to you e.g., photocopying and postage, but we will charge you no more than it actually costs us to do so. We will always tell you what the cost is before providing the information to you.
Our photocopying charge per sheet of paper is shown in the tables below:
Black and white photocopying
Size of paper - Pence per sheet of paper
A3 - 12p
A4 - 10p
Colour photocopying
Size of paper - Pence per sheet of paper
A3 - 22p
A4 - 20p
Information provided on CD-Rom will be charged at £1.00 per computer disc, memory stick ranging from £4.99 to £19.99 depending on the amount of information (we estimate £10 would be adequate for most requests).
Postage costs can be recharged at the rate we paid to send the information to you.
When providing copies of pre-printed publications, we will charge no more than the cost per copy of the total print run.
We do not pass on any other costs to you in relation to our published information.
Please note that this charging schedule does not apply to our commercial publications (see Class 8 below). These items are offered for sale through retail outlets such as book shops, academic journal websites or museum shops and their price reflects a ‘market value’ which may include the cost of production.
Duration
The only restriction to the length of time information is published on our web site is case information relating to Investigations and Reviews. In conjunction with the Retention Schedule on our Records Management Policy, this information is retained for 5 years only.
Contact us
You can contact us for assistance with any aspect of this publication scheme:
Police Investigations & Review Commissioner
2nd Floor
Hamilton House
Hamilton Business Park
Caird Park
Hamilton
ML3 0QA
We will also advise you how to ask for information that we do not publish or how to complain if you are dissatisfied with any aspect of this publication scheme.
The classes of information that we publish
We publish information that we hold within the following classes. Once information is published under a class we will continue to make it available for the current and previous two financial years.
Where information has been updated or superseded, only the current version will be available. If you would like to see previous versions, you may make a request to us for that information.
The classes are:
- Class 1: About the authority
- Class 2: How we deliver our functions and services
- Class 3: How we take decisions and what we have decided
- Class 4: What we spend and how we spend it
- Class 5: How we manage our human, physical and information resources
- Class 6: How we procure goods and services from external providers
- Class 7: How we are performing
- Class 8: Our commercial publications
- Class 9: Our open data
Class 1: About the authority
Class description: Information about the authority, who we are, where to find us, how to contact us, how we are managed and our external relations.
The information we publish under this class:
Our enabling legislation
- The Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006
- Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012
About us
- The Commissioner's role
- How to ask the Commissioner to review a complaint
- The Commissioner's biography
- Senior Management Team Biographies
- Corporate & Business Plans
Contacting us
- Our contact details and opening hours
- Media enquiries
- Complaints about the PIRC
- Making an information request
Governance and Accountability
- Overview of PIRC finance & governance
- Governance and Accountability Framework Document
- Audit and Accountability Committee Minutes
- Heads of Department Group Meeting Minutes
- Register of interests
External relations
- Memoranda of Understanding
- Scottish Public Services Ombudsman ‐ making a complaint about the PIRC
- Scottish Information Commissioner ‐ FOI
- Information Commissioner's Office ‐ DPA
Keeping others informed
Corporate policies and procedures
Class 2: How we deliver our functions and services
Class description: Information about our work, our strategy and policies for delivering functions and services and information for our service users.
The information we publish under this class:
- What we do
- Our complaint review process
- Investigations Role
- Complaint handling procedures
- Frequently asked questions
- A guide for officers on the role of the PIRC
- Form ‐ Application for review form
Our quality and standards function
Strategic and operational plans
Standards of service
- Standards of Service
Class 3: How we take decisions and what we have decided
Class description: Information about the decisions we take, how we make decisions and how we involve others.
The information we publish under this class:
Complaint review
Investigations
Class 4: what we spend and how we spend it
Class description: Information about our strategy for, and management of, financial resources (in sufficient detail to explain how we plan to spend public money and what has actually been spent).
The information we publish under this class:
Finance
Class 5: How we manage our human, physical and information resources
Class description: Information about how we manage our human, physical and information resources.
The information we publish under this class:
Human resources
Information resources
Class 6: How we procure goods and services from external providers
Class description: Information about how we procure goods and services and our contracts with external providers.
The information we publish under this class:
Class 7: How we are performing
Class description: Information about how we perform as an organisation and how well we deliver our functions and services.
The information we publish under this class:
Class 8: Our commercial publications
Class description: Information packaged and made available for sale on a commercial basis and sold at market value through a retail outlet e.g. bookshop, museum or research journal.
We do not hold or publish any information.
Class 9: Our open data
Class description: Open data made we make available as described by the Scottish Government’s Open Data Resource Pack and available under an open licence.
We do not hold or publish any information.
Version Control Data
Title: Guide to Information
Last Updated: February 2022
Summary of last modification: New SIC Version Update and Link Audit
Date of modification: February 2022
Next review date: August 2024