Specified Information Order & Publication Scheme

In December 2011, the Elected Local Policing Bodies (Specified Information) Order 2011 (amended 2021) was laid before parliament and came in to force in January 2012. Following this order, Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) have to ensure that the public have access to independent and clear information to use when holding PCCs to account.

Below is the Specified Information Order that highlights what information must be readily available to the public and the appropriate links to the webpages where this information is held.

Specified Information Order

In relation to the relevant office holders of the elected local policing body:

(A) the name of each relevant office holder: PFCC/Oath of Office

(B) the address for correspondence of each relevant office holder;

Office address

Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner,
1-2 Carleton Hall,
Penrith,
Cumbria
CA10 2AU.

Phone number: 01768 217734

Email: commissioner@cumbria-pcc.gov.uk

(D) the allowances paid to each relevant office holder in respect of expenses incurred by the office holder in the exercise of the body’s functions;

(E) a register of interests of relevant office holders, including every paid employment or office or other pecuniary interest of each relevant office holder.

(F) the number of complaints or conduct matters that have been brought to the attention of a relevant office holder by the police and crime panel (either because they have been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, or because they are being subjected to informal resolution by the panel).

In relation to the staff (and, in relation to gifts and hospitality, also the relevant office holders) of the elected local policing body:

The number of members of the staff;
The proportion of the staff who –
Are women,
Are, to the knowledge of the elected local policing body, members of an ethnic minority,
Have, to the knowledge of the elected local policing body, a disability (within the meaning of section six of the Equality Act 2010 (a));
An organisational chart showing the structure of the staff;
The job title, responsibilities and salary of each senior employee and (unless the senior employee refuses to consent to the publication of his name) the name of the senior employee;
A register of each offer of a gift or hospitality made to a relevant office holder or member of staff, indicating whether the offer was accepted or refused.

2A. In relation to:

The duty of the chief officer of the police force maintained by the elected local policing body to provide assistance to the body under section 2(5) or 4(5) of the 2011 Act; and
The power of a local authority to provide administrative, professional or technical service to the elected local policing body under section 1(1) of the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970
Information as to any arrangements for use by the elected local policing body of the staff of the chief officer or of a local authority under those provisions.

In relation to the income and expenditure of the elected local policing body:

The total budget of the elected local policing body;
Where the elected local policing body is a police and crime commissioner, the Precept issued by the commissioner;
Information as to each anticipated source of revenue of the elected local policing body (other than, in the case of a police and crime commissioner, the precept);
Budget report of the elected local policing body;
A copy of the annual investment strategy of the elected local policing body;
Information as to each crime and disorder reduction grant made by the elected local policing body, including the conditions (if any) attached to the grant, the recipient of the grant, the purpose of the grant and the reasons why the body considered the that grant would secure, or contribute to securing, crime and disorder reduction in the body’s area;
Information as to each item of expenditure of:
- The elected local policing body, or
- The chief officer of the police force maintained by the body, exceeding £500 (other than a crime and disorder reduction grant made by the elected local policing body or an item of expenditure to which sub-paragraph (h) applies), including the recipient of the funds, the purpose of the expenditure and the reasons why the body or the chief officer (as the case may be) considered that good value for money would be obtained.
Information as to each item of expenditure of the elected local policing body in relation to travel by, accommodation for, or the subsistence of, a relevant office holder, including the recipient of the funds, the purpose of the expenditure and the reasons why the elected local policing body considered that good value for money would be obtained.

In relation to the property, rights and liabilities of the elected local policing body:

The identity of any premises or land owned by, or occupied for the purposes of, the elected local policing body; – Property Asset Register
A copy of each contract with a value exceeding £10,000 to which:
- The elected local policing body, or
- The chief officer of the police force maintained by the body, is or is to be a party;
A copy of each invitation to tender issued by:
- The elected local policing body, or
- The chief officer of the police force maintained by the body, in relation to a contract which the body or chief officer (as the case may be) expects will have a value exceeding £10,000;
A list of every contract with a value not exceeding £10,000 to which:
- The elected local policing body, or
- The chief officer of the police force maintained by the body, is or is to be a party, including the value of the contract, the identity of every other party to the contract and the purposes of the contract.

In relation to the decisions of the elected local policing body:

The date, time and place of each public meeting to be held by the elected local policing body;
A copy of the agenda for each public meeting held by the elected local policing body and any report or other document that is the subject matter of an item on the agenda
A copy of the minutes of each public meeting held by the elected local policing body, and of each meeting which is not a public meeting but at which matters of significant public interest arising from the exercise of the body’s functions are discussed.
A record of each decision of significant public interest arising from the exercise of the elected local policing body’s functions, whether made by the body at or as a result of a meeting or otherwise.

In relation to the policies of the elected local policing body:

A statement of the policy of the elected local policing body in relation to the conduct of relevant office holders, including procedures for the handling of qualifying complaints and conduct matters (within the meaning of section 31 of the 2011 Act);
A statement of the policy of the elected local policing body in relation to the making of decisions of significant public interest arising from the exercise of the body’s functions;
A statement of the policy of the elected local policing body in relation to records management, including procedures for the security and sharing information and the retention and destruction of documents;
A statement of the policy of the elected local policing body in relation to the handling of qualifying disclosures (within the meaning of section 43B of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (a)).

In relation to the prevention of crime and disorder, a copy of any report required by the elected local policing body from the responsible authorities for a local government area under section 7(1) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998(b).

7A. In relation to the key national priorities for policing, as communicated to elected local policing bodies by the Secretary of State

7B. In relation to inspections and reports by the inspectors of constabulary under section 54(2) of the Police Act 1996
(appointment and functions of inspectors of constabulary) (2) the most recent –

7C. In relation to complaints concerning the police force maintained by the elected local policing body –

The most recent –
Quarterly data in relation to that police force
Annual statistics report published by the Independent Office for Police Conduct;
A report setting out –
Details of how the elected local policing body has fulfilled its duty under –

(aa) in the case of police and crime commissioners, section 1(8)(ca) of the 2011 Act (police and crime commissioners)(3) to hold the Chief Constable to account for the exercise of the Chief Constable’s functions under Part two of the Police Reform Act 2002(4) in relation to handling complaints.

(bb) in the case of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, section 3(8)(ca) of the 2011 Act (Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime)(5) to hold the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to account for the exercise of the Commissioner’s functions under Part two of the Police Reform Act 2002 in relation to the handling of complaints;

An assessment by the elected local policing body of its performance in exercising its functions under paragraph 30(1)(b) of Schedule three to the Police Reform Act 2002 (reviews: the relevant review body) (6);
Where the elected local policing body has given notice to the chief officer of the police force maintained by the body under section 13A of the Police Reform Act 2002 (local policing bodies: functions in relation to complaints) (7) that it is to exercise certain functions of the chief officer in relation to complaints, an assessment by the body of its performance in exercising those functions.

In relation to the Independent Custody Visitor arrangements made under section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002(a), information as to the operation of the arrangements.

Publication Scheme

In addition to the general right of access given to individuals under the Freedom of Information Act, and the information published by order of the Specified Information Order, the Commissioner is required to adopt, implement and maintain a Publication Scheme, which is based on classes of information that have been defined by the Information Commissioner.

Publication Schemes are intended to encourage organisations to publish more information proactively and to develop a greater culture of openness, and enables the public to access information readily, without recourse to Freedom of Information requests.

This Publication Scheme makes information available to the public as part of the Commissioner’s normal business activities and is designed to inform the public of information that we ordinarily publish or intend to publish.

The Commissioner is a data controller registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office under the registration reference Z3382378.

If the information you are looking for is not available via the publication scheme, find out more information about submitting a Freedom of Information request.

The vast majority of the information required under the Publication Scheme is set out in the Specified Information Order above. The remainder of the required information in the Scheme is set out below.

In relation to the income and expenditure of the elected local policing body:

Any response to the Police & Crime Panel’s report on the proposed precept.
Audit:

Audited accounts: a summary statement of the accounts of the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
Auditor’s opinion of the audited accounts of the Constabulary and OPFCC, covering any significant issues and any comments.
The Annual Accounting Statement showing how the budget has been spent.
Audit Reports on the accounts of the OPFCC (please see the Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2011

In relation to the decisions of the elected local policing body:

Decision making
Scheme of Delegation
Scheme of corporate governance
Details of consultations undertaken and outcomes
Council Tax Precept

In relation to strategies, plans and policies of the elected local policing body:

Police and Crime Plan
Annual Report
Collaboration Agreement or the fact that an agreement has been made and such other details about it as appropriate.
Charges for Policing Services
FOI Disclosure Log

Services we offer

The PDFs on this page may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Please contact us to request an accessible version.

Charging for Publications

Free of charge on website: There is no charge made, although the user will, of course, have to meet any charges made by their Internet service provider and/or Telephone Company as well as any personal costs for printing, photocopying etc. For those without access to the Internet, a single printout of an individual publication will be provided, as shown on the website, free of charge.

Chargeable on website: Requests for multiple copies of publications or multiple printouts from the website or for copies of archived material no longer available on the website will attract a charge. The cost will be restricted to 10% of the reasonable marginal costs of complying with the request, together with photocopying costs (currently 5p per sheet for black/white copy) and postage. You will be advised of the cost when your request is received. The charge will be payable in advance. Where the information is available via the website but a value-added service is requested using that information, a charge will be made.

Free of charge hard copy: Indicates a leaflet, booklet or periodical which is published by Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner without charge.

Chargeable hard copy: Indicates a bound paper copy, cassette or other product charged as shown in our Publication Scheme. Where a charge applies, the cost and the reasons for levying such a charge will be made known to you. Any charge will be payable in advance.

Specified Information Order & Publication Scheme