MPA Publication Scheme: part 2 - classes of information

Freedom of Information Act (FoI) 2000

Introduction

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, our Publication Scheme must say what classes, or broad types, of information the MPA already publishes or intends to publish. We aim to publish as much information as possible about our work through the scheme, except where it would not be in the public interest to do so, for example because it might prejudice law enforcement or the health and safety of our staff, or our ability to secure best value from local policing because information is commercially sensitive.

For each class we briefly define the information contained in that class, the format in which it is available and whether the class includes chargeable material.

For those who do not have access to a computer, all information contained in this Publication Scheme (including the Scheme itself) is available in hard copy form.

The MPA publishes, or intends to publish, information under the following classes:

What we do
Who we are
How we work
Our policies and procedures
Involving you
Our plans, performance and reports
Our partners
Press & publicity
Independent Custody Visitors’ Scheme
Other visiting schemes
Information the authority holds

Definition	Format	Cost/Charge
Class: What we do
Here you will find information published by the authority which explains our role and statutory responsibilities.	Electronically and/or hard copy	No charge for single copies
Class: Who we are
Here you will find details of the authority’s current membership, the way in which members are appointed and the rules which govern how they carry out their responsibilities; information about the membership of the Selection Panel which has a role in choosing independent members to serve on the authority and about the lay members of our Standards Committee; details of the Authority’s officers, including the Clerk, Treasurer, Monitoring Officer and key MPA contact staff together with an organisational chart showing the responsibilities of these staff; and details of the Force Senior Management Team appointed by the authority. We may not publish information in this class if it would endanger the safety of any individual, is commercially confidential or if it is personal information exempt under the Data Protection Act 1998.	Electronically and/or hard copy	No charge for single copies
Class: How we work
Here you will find information about how we carry out our work and make decisions through meetings of the full authority and its committees including: our committee structure and the membership and terms of reference of each committee; the authority’s current calendar setting out the dates, times and venues of full authority and committee meetings held in public and how you can attend; for full authority and committee meetings - agendas and reports, including a list of background papers, to be considered at those meetings will be published a minimum of 5 working days in advance of the meeting, except late papers tabled in accordance with our urgency arrangements or information which is exempt under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, for example, because it is commercially sensitive, relates to individual staff or legal proceedings; the minutes of full authority and committee meetings, except information which is exempt under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, for example, because it is commercially sensitive, relates to individual staff or legal proceedings; the names of any regular authority working groups, panels or project boards, their terms of reference and the names of those authority members appointed to them; and internal newsletters, where produced, for members and/or staff of the authority to update them on developments affecting the authority.	Electronically and/or hard copy	No charge for single copies
Class: Our policies and procedures
“Here you will find: copies of the authority’s formally approved policies, where developed, which set out the broad principles of our approach to making decisions or dealing with particular issues or aspects of our work; our current standing orders and schemes of delegation; and where it exists, internal guidance produced by the authority to help members or staff carry out their responsibilities. Some information in this class may not be published where this is not in the public interest. In these cases, the material will show where information has been withheld and explain what exemption has been applied and why, for example because its release would compromise the health and safety of staff, law enforcement, the detection and prevention of fraud or legal proceedings.	Electronically and/or hard copy.	No charge for single copies apart from the Staff Handbook, referred to in Part 3, for which a charge will be made because of its size.
Class: Involving our communities
Here you will find information about our arrangements for consulting and engaging in dialogue with local people about policing issues or the work of the authority, including: our current strategy for engaging in consultation and dialogue with local people; surveys or other consultation/community engagement initiatives we carry out including both with local communities and our own staff; the names of any standing consultative groups or forums administered by the authority, including any organisations represented on those groups; information about dates and venues of any planned public meetings; how you can give your views on policing issues or the work of the authority or force; the results of our consultation and other initiatives and how we have taken these into account in our work; and any current community funds or grant-schemes we operate; the procedures for applying for a grant and the process and criteria for deciding whether to award a grant.	Electronically and/or hard copy.	No charge for single copies
Class: Our plans, performance and annual reports
Here you will find: all plans, annual reports, financial information and accounts published by the authority; and monitoring information showing performance against the indicators and targets set for the force on at least a quarterly basis. We will not publish the contents of reports where this is not in the public interest for example, because it may prejudice law enforcement or contains commercially confidential information. Where this is the case we will explain what information has been withheld and why.	Electronically and/or hard copy.	No charge for single copies
Class: Our partners
Here you will find information about how the authority works with other statutory and voluntary partners through local crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) and local Criminal Justice Boards. Electronically and/or hard copy. No charge for single copies
Class: Press & publicity
Here you will find the authority’s media and communications strategy; our press releases and other publicity information produced by the authority.	Electronically and/or hard copy.	No charge for single copies
Class: Independent Custody Visitors Scheme
Here you will find information about the authority’s Independent Custody Visitors Scheme including: the purpose of the scheme, how it operates and the key contact point in the authority; the current number of Independent Custody Visitors; the process and criteria for selection as an Independent Custody Visitor; any current vacancies and how to apply; the overview reports (not individual visit reports) produced for the authority on the outputs from independent custody visiting; the results of the regular assessments undertaken by the authority on the operation of the scheme and its effectiveness; and any performance monitoring data or statistics relating to the operation of the scheme reported to the authority. We will not publish any personal information which is exempt under the Data Protection Act 1998.	Electronically and/or hard copy.	No charge for single copies
Class: Other visiting schemes
Here you will find details of any other visiting schemes operated by the authority including information about the operation of the scheme and how visitors are selected. We will not publish personal information which is exempt under the Data Protection Act 1998 in this class.	Electronically and/or hard copy.	No charge for single copies
Class: Information the authority holds
From December 2004 onwards you will find details of the authority’s records/filing index (where developed) to help you understand the information we hold, how long we keep records for and our disposal policy. We will not publish or disclose information which we hold which is exempt under the Data Protection Act 1998 or because it would prejudice law enforcement or legal proceedings or is commercially confidential. From February 2005 onwards we will publish a Disclosure Log which summarises information which has been disclosed following a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.” Electronically and/or hard copy. No charge for single copies
Category outside of model scheme
Here you will find information about local policing events or matters which the authority considers to be of significant public interest.	Electronically and/or hard copy.	No charge for single copies