Officer equipment 433/2024

FOI Reference: 433/2024

Request:

1) Please can you list the communications equipment provided to a front-line officer at the start of a shift?:

2) How does the officer collect this equipment at the start of their shift? (personal locker, stores, centralised collection point) can your answer detail the collection method for each piece of equipment listed in answer 1

3) In regards to the equipment listed in question 1 please can you detail the volume and value of equipment lost for the last calendar year (2023)? Can your answer be listed by equipment type rather than in total.

4) In regards to the equipment listed in question 1 please can you detail the volume and value of equipment damaged for the last calendar year (2023)? Can your answer be listed by equipment type rather than in total.

5) How are these specific items stored when not in use?

a. Airwave Radio –

b. Body Worn Video –

c. Tazer –

6) Do the devices listed in question 5 need to be recharged between shifts?

7) Is there an officer or officers responsible for the security of the devices listed in question 5. Please can you provide their job titles.

  

Response 1:

 I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

A personal issue Tetra Radio and a personal issue Mobile Data Terminal.

Response 2:

 I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Both the Tetra Radio and Mobile Data Terminal are collected from the officers’ personal lockers at the beginning of their tour of duty.

Response 3:

 I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

35x Airwave Radio’s – value Section 43(2) exemption applies, (please see the end of the document for an explanation of the applied exemption)

5x MDT’s – value Section 43(2) exemption applies, (please see the end of the document for an explanation of the applied exemption)

Response 4:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

5x Airwave Radio’s - value Section 43(2) exemption applies, (please see the end of the document for an explanation of the applied exemption)

4x MDT’s - value Section 43(2) exemption applies, (please see the end of the document for an explanation of the applied exemption)

Response 5:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

a) Airwaves radios are stored in personal issue lockers. The radio has a removable battery that attaches to the back, the battery is removed at the end of a tour of duty and placed into a communal battery rechanging point.

b) Body Worn Videos are stored on the charging/download point when not in use. Each station has their own designated area with body worn docking points. Each body worn is personal issue and marked with the officer’s collar number so that the officer uses the same body worn video each shift.

c) Tasers are stored in a secure taser safe when not in use. Each station has their own designated area for the taser safes.

Response 6:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

a) Airwave batteries need to be removed from the back of the radio between shifts and recharged on the communal charging station.

b) Body worn videos need to be docked on the charger/ downloading dock so that it can recharge between shifts.

c) Tasers do not need to be charged between shifts.

Response 7:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

a) Airwaves are personal issue therefore it is down to the officer to ensure the devices security.

b) Body worn video is personal issue therefore it is down to the officer to ensure the devices security.

c) The officer carrying Taser is responsible for ensuring its safe return to the Taser safe at the end of their tour of duty. Front line Police Sergeants have a duty to report any breaches in security with the Tasers. Each division has Police officers acting as SPOC's (specific point of contact), these officers will routinely check the tasers are being secured and maintained correctly. 

Explanation of the applied exemption:

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 purchase of radios, BWV and tasers.

Considerations Favouring Non-Disclosure:

In this case, to release details relating to the value of radios, BWV and tasers would likely prejudice the commercial interests of the current suppliers by adversely affecting their 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 companies/suppliers but also that of Dyfed-Powys Police, as the release of this information may also affect the competitiveness of the contracts which in turn would affect the relationship the force has with the companies/suppliers 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 30/05/2024)