Recycling police uniforms 473/2024
FOI Reference: 473/2024
Request:
- Does your police force have a policy on the disposal/recycling of uniforms and items of police equipment supplied to police officers and staff? Please could you supply a copy of the relevant policies and procedures?
- Do you have any commercial arrangements for the disposal/recycling of uniforms where this is carried out by a third party? If so, who is the third-party provider?
- How are uniform items recycled or disposed of? For example, secure shredding, landfill, incineration, or recycled by a different method?
- Please provide a copy of any disposal/recycling agreements/contracts with commercial third parties for uniforms and textiles.
- What items of equipment is included in respect of the above?
- What uniform items and equipment are purchased and supplied to your force via the National Uniform Managed Services (NUMS)? What is the unit cost for each individual item?
- Does your force have an end-of-life policy with respect to the disposal of uniforms via the National Uniform Managed Services (NUMS) or any other third party? If so, whom and what is the cost of this service per item/weight or other method specified? Could I have a copy of the end of the relevant policy or document(s)?
Response 1:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below. There is no specific Policy, however, the below are extracts from the Uniform and Standards of Appearance Procedure which are relevant to your request:
Loss or Damage Applications for the issue of replacements of lost or damaged uniform should be made to force stores and must be authorised at Inspector level or above. Some clothing/equipment is very expensive. If it is damaged it must not be thrown away. In the first instance BSU Stores should be contacted to see if the clothing/equipment can be repaired.
Retention / Disposal Police officers and Police staff must return ALL unused police uniform and equipment upon retirement or resignation.
Section 6 - Contamination of Uniform
If clothing becomes contaminated with blood or other body fluid, the following course of action should be followed: Put on disposable gloves, and then remove clothing and place in a yellow clinical waste bag, seal and label. Be mindful not to contaminate anyone or anything else. Dispose of the bag in a yellow clinical waste container available in all stations with Custody Suites. Disposal should be carried out as shown in the “Disposal of contaminated waste guidance” available to be viewed on the force intranet.
Response 2:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.
Yes. Viridor.
Response 3:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.
Incinerated.
Response 4:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does not hold the information requested, this is due to the fact that the process is completed on an ad hoc basis.
Response 5:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.
All clothing, body armour and helmets minus their metal badges.
Response 6:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.
Body armour. Section 43(2) exemption applies, please see the bottom of this document for an explanation.
Response 7:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.
No. n/a.
Explanation of applied exemption:
Under the Act, we cannot, and do not request the motives of any application for information. We have no doubt that the vast majority of requests made under the Act are legitimate and the applicants do not have any ulterior motives. However, in disclosing information to one applicant, we are expressing a willingness to provide it to anyone in the world. This means that a disclosure to a genuinely interested and concerned person automatically opens it up for a similar disclosure, including those who would use the information to gain an advantage over our ability to exercise our core function which is Law Enforcement.
In considering whether or not this information should be disclosed, consideration has been given to the potential harm that could be caused by disclosure.
Section 43(2) Commercial Interests
“(2) Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).”
This is a qualified and class-based exemption. As a class-based exemption, legislators have already accepted the harm in release of this class of information. As a consequence, there is no requirement to evidence the harm in disclosing such information. However, as the exemption is a qualified exemption there is a requirement to apply the public interest test, as detailed below.
Public Interest Test:
Considerations Favouring Disclosure:
There is a requirement to provide to the general public a better understanding of how public funds are spent. One of the underlying principles of the Act is the need for openness and transparency. In this case, there is a public interest in establishing that Dyfed-Powys Police has negotiated competitive rates in relation to the disposal of uniform.
Considerations Favouring Non-Disclosure:
In this case, to release details relating to the disposal of uniform would likely prejudice the commercial interests of the current supplier by adversely affecting its bargaining position during contractual negotiations which would result in the less effective use of public money. This would not only prejudice the commercial interests of the company/supplier but also that of Dyfed-Powys Police, as the release of this information may also affect the competitiveness of the contract which in turn would affect the relationship the force has with the company/supplier which could result in civil action from a third party.
Balancing Test:
When balancing the public interest test, we have to consider whether the information should be released into the public domain. Advantages and disadvantages of disclosure need to be weighed against each other. In this case there is the use of public funds favouring disclosure which needs to be weighed against the damage that would occur to any ongoing or future tender process and the commercial interests of third parties.
By releasing the requested information, the commercial interests of a business and individuals may be compromised including that of Dyfed-Powys Police, along with the relationship that Dyfed-Powys Police has with that company/supplier or persons. Therefore, the factor favouring non-disclosure, which is damage would occur to any future tender process and the commercial interests of third parties outweighs the factor favouring disclosure, which is better understanding of how public funds are spent.
As such, the public interest favours non-disclosure of the information at this time. Therefore, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 31/07/2024)