Please note that the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner may not hold information relating to Cleveland Police’s operational activities and therefore may not be able to answer your request.
If a query is related to operational policing matters, we request that you view the Cleveland Police Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure log and their FOI guidelines before submitting a request to the OPCC.
Make a Freedom of Information request to Cleveland Police.
Freedom of Information Log
Before considering a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), please consult our list of previous requests and responses to discover if the information has already been provided.
Information disclosed under previous Freedom of Information requests.
If you still wish to submit an FOI Request, please follow the guidelines below.
What is the Freedom of Information Act 2000?
Any person or organisation has the right to request any information from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) that the OPCC holds, subject to the exemptions listed in the Act. The Act intends to promote a culture of openness and accountability and therefore facilitate better understanding of how the PCC (and other organisations) carry out their duties, why we make the decisions we make and how we spend public money.
If the information you want is not already available on this website you may make a specific request for information and we will deal with it in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
To make a request please put your request in writing or via email to the Office of the PCC for Cleveland (see contact details below). You need to a full name for correspondence, and the information you require in as much detail as you can offer.
Make a Freedom of Information request
Make a Freedom of Information request via online form
You can also make a request via the below methods:
Letter:
FOI Officer,
Office of the PCC for Cleveland
Shared Services
c/o St Marks House
St Marks Court
Thornaby
Stockton-on-Tees
TS17 6QW
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01642 301861 (for FOI queries)
Timescale
The OPCC will normally be required to respond to your request within 20 working days from the date of receipt. However, this can be extended in certain circumstances.
Exemptions
The OPCC must supply the information you have requested (if we hold it) within the timescale previously stated unless an exemption applies. An exemption may either permit the OPCC to withhold some or all of the information. If an exemption applies, we may take more time to consider your request. In either case you will be kept informed.
Charges
There is no charge for searching for information. However if the staff time involved to search, identify and retrieve the information exceeds £450, we can refuse the request. We can also make a nominal charge for disbursements (e.g. photocopying required to complete the request). If a charge for searching for information is payable we will advise you but the information you have requested will not be supplied until that fee is paid.
Other Legislation
We will deal with requests for information about yourself under the Data Protection Act 2018 and you will be advised accordingly.
Advice and Assistance
The OPCC must provide advice and help you obtain information from the PCC. This could be:
- Providing help and assistance if you are visually impaired
- Arranging assistance in interpreting information into other languages where practically reasonable
- In exceptional circumstances noting down the request for you and obtaining your confirmation of the details
- Referring you to other agencies for help such as the Citizens Advice Bureau
If the PCC does not hold the information requested but believes that some or all of the information is held by another public authority we will either provide you with the contact details of the other public authority or transfer your request to them with your consent.
Internal review
Requests for an internal review should be submitted to the OPCC within 40 working days of receipt of the full response from the OPCC. The requester should specify why they do not agree with the response and what factors they would like the OPCC to take into account as part of the review.
We will deal with requests for an internal review promptly and in any case within 20 working days of receipt. If it will take longer to conduct the review, we will inform the requester why this is the case and when he/she can expect a response.
A senior member of staff at the OPCC will deal with the internal review. The staff member, who made the original decision, will not be the same person, who responds in the internal review. This is to ensure that a fair and transparent review process is undertaken and there is no prejudice is involved.