Publications

18 November 2020 | Our Business

FOISA Response No.603 - company Disciplinary Policy

Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). 

This response addressed the following query:

“Please send me official document which regulates disciplinary responsibility and procedure of your staff members.”

The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions. Public authorities have twenty working days following the date of receipt of the request to respond to an applicant, and therefore, the deadline for response is 27 June 2020.

Under Section 17 of FOISA I can confirm we hold this information. Please find attached to this letter a copy of our company Disciplinary Policy. We are currently in the process of reviewing this policy, however this is the one currently active within our organisation.

YOUR RIGHT TO REQUEST A REVIEW

You have a right under the Act to request a review of this decision. If you wish to exercise this right, you must do so within forty working days following the date of receipt of this decision. Your request for a review must be in writing and you must specify your name and address for correspondence. You must also identify the decision that you wish to be reviewed. Should you wish to request a review, please address your request to:

Police Investigations & Review Commissioner

2nd Floor, Hamilton House

Caird Park

Hamilton ML3 0QA

Your review will be undertaken by an individual not involved in the original decision making process.

YOUR RIGHT OF APPEAL

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of a review, you have a right under the Act to appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner. If you wish to do so, you must appeal to the Commissioner within six months following the date of receipt of the review notice. The Commissioner’s contact details are as follows:

The Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St Andrews

Fife

KY16 9DS

Email: enquiries@itspublicknowledge.info

Tel: 01334 464610

Yours sincerely

Janice Carter

Information Officer

18 November 2020 | Our Business

FOISA Response No.613 - request for Complaint Handling Review report

Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). 

This response addressed the following:

Further to your request for information, I can confirm the Case Handling Review report
you are seeking is published on our web site and can be viewed using this link. The
PIRC reference number is PIRC/00601/16.

Kind Regards

Janice Carter
Information Officer
tel: 01698 542 900

18 November 2020 | Our Business

FOISA Response No.610 - information about PIRC staff and complaint referrals

Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). 

This response addressed the following queries:

“1) How many members of staff at PIRC have previously worked for the police?

 2) How many members of staff currently work the police as well as PIRC?

 3) How many cases have PIRC had referred to them in the last 5 years? I'd like this broken down into each year. Of these cases, how many found in favour of the police and how many found in favour of the complainer?”

The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions. Public authorities have twenty working days following the date of receipt of the request to respond to an applicant, and therefore, the deadline for response is 27 July 2020.

I can confirm we hold this information. I will now address your queries in turn.

How many members of staff at PIRC have previously worked for the police?

We publish information of this type on our web site www.pirc.scot. At present out of 76 employees, 34 have previously worked for the police in some capacity including civilian roles.

How many members of staff currently work the police as well as PIRC?

None of our staff work for the police as well as working for the PIRC.

How many cases have PIRC had referred to them in the last 5 years? I'd like this broken down into each year. Of these cases, how many found in favour of the police and how many found in favour of the complainer?

This information is made available each year in our annual report.

I would first of all like to explain some of the terminology for our Complaints Handling Review (CHR) process. We carry out CHRs which are reviews of complaints referred to us by members of the public who are dissatisfied with the manner in which the police handled their complaint. This process involves the analysis of documentation provided by the applicant and the police complaint files to determine whether the police handled the applicant’s original complaint “reasonably” or “not reasonably”.

Each application will contain one or more heads of complaint. These are complaints identified by the PIRC and confirmed with the applicant following assessment of the application form and case papers. Following the conclusion of a complaint handling review we will determine what complaints the policing body have “reasonably handled” or “not reasonably handled”.

For the last five years (April 2015 to March 2020) this information is as follows:

YOUR RIGHT TO REQUEST A REVIEW

You have a right under the Act to request a review of this decision. If you wish to exercise this right, you must do so within forty working days following the date of receipt of this decision. Your request for a review must be in writing and you must specify your name and address for correspondence. You must also identify the decision that you wish to be reviewed. Should you wish to request a review, please address your request to:

Police Investigations & Review Commissioner

2nd Floor, Hamilton House

Caird Park

Hamilton

ML3 0QA

Your review will be undertaken by an individual not involved in the original decision making process.

YOUR RIGHT OF APPEAL

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of a review, you have a right under the Act to appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner. If you wish to do so, you must appeal to the Commissioner within six months following the date of receipt of the review notice. The Commissioner’s contact details are as follows:

The Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St Andrews

Fife

KY16 9DS

Email: enquiries@itspublicknowledge.info

Tel: 01334 464610

Yours sincerely

Janice Carter

Information Officer

18 November 2020 | Our Business

FOISA Response 607 - report submitted to Chief Constable relating to incident on 29 Nov 2019

Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). 

This response addressed the following query:

"Incident Date 29th November, 2019.

I note from your website that a report has been submitted to the Chief Constable, I would be obliged if I could provide me with a copy of your report.”

The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions. Public authorities have twenty working days following the date of receipt of the request to respond to an applicant, and therefore, the deadline for response is 30 June 2020.

I can confirm we hold this information. Please find attached a copy of the report you requested.

YOUR RIGHT TO REQUEST A REVIEW

You have a right under the Act to request a review of this decision. If you wish to exercise this right, you must do so within forty working days following the date of receipt of this decision. Your request for a review must be in writing and you must specify your name and address for correspondence. You must also identify the decision that you wish to be reviewed. Should you wish to request a review, please address your request to:

Police Investigations & Review Commissioner

2nd Floor, Hamilton House

Caird Park

Hamilton

ML3 0QA

Your review will be undertaken by an individual not involved in the original decision making process.

YOUR RIGHT OF APPEAL

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of a review, you have a right under the Act to appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner. If you wish to do so, you must appeal to the Commissioner within six months following the date of receipt of the review notice. The Commissioner’s contact details are as follows:

The Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St Andrews

Fife

KY16 9DS

Email: enquiries@itspublicknowledge.info

Tel: 01334 464610

Yours sincerely

Janice Carter

Information Officer

18 November 2020 | Our Business

FOISA Response No. 606 - number of deaths following police contact investigations

Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). 

This response addressed the following query:

“I am looking for annual statistics on deaths following police contacts.

I have found PIRC's publications on individual incidents of deaths following police contact. Can you inform me of a report by PIRC for the annual numbers of deaths following police contacts?”

The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions. Public authorities have twenty working days following the date of receipt of the request to respond to an applicant, and therefore, the deadline for response is 3 July 2020.

I can confirm that the PIRC holds the information that you have requested and the exemption(s) that I consider to be applicable is:

Section 25(1) - information otherwise accessible:

“Information which the applicant can reasonably obtain other than by requesting it under Section 1(1) is exempt information”

We publish statistics in relation to all investigations we have carried out during the year in the Commissioner’s Annual Report. These are published on our website each year, and can be found under this link.

YOUR RIGHT TO REQUEST A REVIEW

You have a right under the Act to request a review of this decision. If you wish to exercise this right, you must do so within forty working days following the date of receipt of this decision. Your request for a review must be in writing and you must specify your name and address for correspondence. You must also identify the decision that you wish to be reviewed. Should you wish to request a review, please address your request to:

Police Investigations & Review Commissioner

2nd Floor, Hamilton House

Caird Park

Hamilton

ML3 0QA

Your review will be undertaken by an individual not involved in the original decision making process.

YOUR RIGHT OF APPEAL

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of a review, you have a right under the Act to appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner. If you wish to do so, you must appeal to the Commissioner within six months following the date of receipt of the review notice. The Commissioner’s contact details are as follows:

The Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St Andrews

Fife

KY16 9DS

Email: enquiries@itspublicknowledge.info

Tel: 01334 464610

Yours sincerely

Janice Carter

Information Officer

18 November 2020 | Our Business

FOISA Response No. 605 - number of ex-police employed at the PIRC

Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). 

This response addressed the following query:

“How many current members of staff at PIRC have previously been police officers or employed by the police service? I’d like this sent to me by post.”

The PIRC has considered this as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (“FOISA”). An application for information held by public authorities under section 1 of FOISA requires that a public authority release all information held, subject to any applicable exemptions. Public authorities have twenty working days following the date of receipt of the request to respond to an applicant, and therefore, the deadline for response is 30 June 2020.

I can confirm we hold this information. Of the 76 staff currently employed by the PIRC, excluding the Commissioner, 29 have been police officers in the past, and a further 5 have been employed in civilian roles within the police service.

YOUR RIGHT TO REQUEST A REVIEW

You have a right under the Act to request a review of this decision. If you wish to exercise this right, you must do so within forty working days following the date of receipt of this decision. Your request for a review must be in writing and you must specify your name and address for correspondence. You must also identify the decision that you wish to be reviewed. Should you wish to request a review, please address your request to:

Police Investigations & Review Commissioner

2nd Floor, Hamilton House

Caird Park

Hamilton ML3 0QA

Your review will be undertaken by an individual not involved in the original decision making process.

YOUR RIGHT OF APPEAL

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of a review, you have a right under the Act to appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner. If you wish to do so, you must appeal to the Commissioner within six months following the date of receipt of the review notice. The Commissioner’s contact details are as follows:

The Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St Andrews

Fife

KY16 9DS

Email: enquiries@itspublicknowledge.info

Tel: 01334 464610

Yours sincerely

Janice Carter

Information Officer

13 May 2020 | Our Business

FOISA Response No. 598 - Anti-Catholicism

Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). 

This response addresses the following queries: 

• A full count, disclosure and summary of remedial action per all complaints of Anti-Catholicism raised against PIRC between 10/3/2014 - 10/3/2016

13 May 2020 | Our Business

FOISA Response No. 597 - Travel and energy efficiency

Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). 

This response addresses the following queries: 

1. The number of flights taken by the PIRC staff/employees in their official capacity in each of the last 3 financial years (2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18). Can you please also provide the route (departure and destination) and the cost for each flight.
2. A list of (or the number of) vehicles owned or used by the PIRC, including make, model, mileage and fuel type. If some of this information is not available or is covered by an exception under the Freedom of Information Act, please provide a partial list. If the most up to date information cannot be provided, please provide the latest available.
3. A copy of any record the PIRC has of the energy efficiency of its appliances such as refrigerators, projectors and printers. If some of this information is not available or is covered by an exception under the Freedom of Information Act, please provide a partial list. If the most up to date information cannot be provided, please provide the latest available.
4. A copy of any record the PIRC has of the energy efficiency of its estate/buildings. If some of this information is not available or is covered by an exception under the Freedom of Information Act, please provide a partial list. If the most up to date information cannot be provided, please provide the latest available.
5. The number of instances of the PIRC using cars (including taxis) to transport documents in each of the last 3 financial years (2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18). Please detail why this was for each case.

13 May 2020 | Our Business

FOISA Response No. 596 - Use of plastics and disposables

Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). 

This response addresses the following queries:

1. The number of bin bags/liners (or packs/units of) purchased by the PIRC in each of the last three financial years (2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18). and how many of these were biodegradable. Please also provide the cost for each year.
2. The number of disposable cups (plastic, cardboard or otherwise) purchased by the PIRC in each of the last three financial years (2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18). Please also provide the cost for each year.
3. The number of litres of bottled water purchased by the PIRC in each of the last three financial years (2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18). Please also provide the cost for each year.
4. The number of plastic coffee stirrers purchased by the PIRC in each of the last three financial years (2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18). Please also provide the cost for each year.
5. The number of printer ink cartridges purchased by the PIRC in each of the last three financial years (2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18), and the number of printer cartridges recycled for each of those years. Please also provide the cost for each year.
6. The number of packs or sheets of paper (if packs, please specific how many sheets or the weight of a pack) purchased by the PIRC in each of the last three financial years (2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18). Please also provide the cost for each year.

13 May 2020 | Our Business

FOISA Response No. 595 - Use of Tasers

Where relevant, we publish our responses to Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). 

This response addresses the following queries:

1. How many times have police Scotland officers tasered people?
2. Of those, how many related to a "concern for welfare" call out?
3. Of these, how many claim to have in response to the victim having a knife/blade/scissors etc IN THEIR OWN HOME?
4. Of these, how many civilian witnesses can corroborate the police claim that such a knife/blade/scissors etc were actually presented, and presented in a credibly threatening manner
5. How many times did the officers insist ion entering the victims home without a warrant? How long did the officers continue to insist on illegal entry on average? So how often are the police using tasers to terrorise vulnerable adults compared to actually tasering the likes of bank robbers etc?