Appeals Process

Dyfed-Powys Police have an appeals process for requestors who wish
to appeal regarding their requests for information.   Using the appeals
process will not affect the right of a requestor to appeal directly to
the Information Commissioner if he/she so wishes.

Who can appeal?

Anyone who has requested information from the Force can appeal;
this includes applicants whose requests have been deemed vexatious.  If
a requestor has requested information and is not satisfied with the
way Dyfed-Powys Police has dealt with the request, the requestor can
use the appeals process to have it looked at again. If someone who
requested information would like to appeal but cannot do so themselves
another person can appeal on their behalf.

What can a requestor appeal about?

A requestor can appeal about the range, amount and format of
information Dyfed-Powys Police have sent following a request. A
requestor can also appeal about the way a request was handled – for
example, the time it took to respond, or the way letters were worded.

How can a requestor appeal?

A requestor will need to contact the Freedom of Information Unit
at Dyfed Powys Police.  It will be helpful if the requestor can
provide as much information as possible about the request made and the
reason for the appeal.   If possible the original reference number
provided to the requestor should be quoted. 
The Freedom of Information Unit can be contacted at the following address:

Telephone: 101

Direct Line: 01267 226596 / 01267 226297

E-mail:  FOI@Dyfed-Powys.pnn.police.uk

Time Limits

If you wish to submit an appeal you should do this within two
months following the final response you receive from Dyfed Powys Police
in relation to your request, this is in line with ICO (Information
Commissioner’s Office) guidance.   Dyfed Powys Police aims to deal with
and complete your appeal as soon as practicable and in any case within
two months of receipt of your appeal, this is in line with ACPO
(Association of Chief Police Officers) guidance.

What will happen to an appeal?

Once the Freedom of Information Unit has enough details to identify
the request the Dyfed-Powys Police will begin a review of what
happened and when. 

The appeal will be referred to a panel within Dyfed-Powys Police.  
The panel will investigate what has taken place and assess whether
Dyfed-Powys Police has been fair and thorough in the way the requestor
has been dealt with.  The Panel will not just look at the part of the
request concerning the requestor, but will look at the whole request to
see what caused the problem raised by the requestor.

Where Dyfed-Powys Police has not followed proper procedures, or has
failed to provide a high quality of service, an apology and an
explanation on what procedures Dyfed-Powys Police will follow to ensure
it doesn’t happen again will be provided to the requestor.

If Dyfed-Powys Police should have provided information and has not
provided it, the requestor will be sent the information immediately. If
it is believed following review that the original response was
correct, the requestor will be informed of this. The requestor will be
informed of his/her options.

Appeal to the Information Commissioner

If the requestor is still not satisfied following the review
he/she can take the appeal to the Information Commissioner who may
investigate the matter on behalf of the requestor.   This option is open
to the requestor at all times.  It would be preferable to Dyfed Powys
Police if matters were sorted out at a local level if possible.   The
Information Commissioner will decide if he/she will investigate or
not. 

The Information Commissioner’s office can be contacted at the following address:

Telephone: 01625 545700

E-mail:  mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk 

Web address: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk