York City Task Force
Our Ref: Our Ref: NY8846 - 14 November 2023
Our Ref: NY8846
14 November 2023
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: NY8846
I write in connection with your request for information which was received by Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) on 29 October 2023.
I note you seek access to the following information:
In 2019 in August the PCFC & CC announced from September 2019 there was to be a city ‘task force’ as below. I understand comprised 8 officers.
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/17868430.city-task-force-tackle-crime-anti-social-behaviour-york/
May I ask the following questions:
- I vaguely recall in addition to the usual police precept that each household was billed separately(?) an additional £10, can you confirm if this is the case, can you confirm if this was a supplementary precept applied to York ratepayers, or how this was billed? Can you provide such agreement. If there was no such supplemental precept please advise how this effort was paid for.
- Can you confirm that 8 officers including the sergeant were retained from September 2019 to now, or when/if the task force was disbanded?
- I have seen no reports of this task force, other than the big launch. It is important to know understand the costs of this initiative (8 officers and related support) as well as the reports on their activity and the effectiveness, particularly if it was a particular surcharge to York ratepayers. Please provide your recorded information.
Decision
To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within the OPFCC.
I can confirm that part of the information you have requested is held by the OPFCC.
I have today decided to disclose the following information to you:
Question 1
OPFCC did publish a leaflet containing information regarding a City Task Force for 2019/2020 – Fire and Police Precept Leaflet 2019-2020. Within this document, it states that the extra investment will be spent on six areas, one of those being the City Task Force.
Details of the financial breakdown are within the leaflet, and it states that precept monies (as usual) are collected via residents’ council tax bills. York residents did not pay a surcharge specifically for this task force. It (along with the other investment areas) was funded as a result of the increased precept monies as a whole. Every North Yorkshire resident would have contributed to this via their council tax bill.
Full financial details for 2019/202 are available here – 2019/20 Police precept – Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner North Yorkshire (northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk)
Questions Two and Three
Regarding questions two and three, I wish to advise you that there is no information held by the OPFCC, other than to confirm that there was no surcharge for York residents for the City Task Force.
This is because the information is held by North Yorkshire Police, and not the OPFCC
You can submit a freedom of information request or right of access/subject access request for information relating to you to North Yorkshire Police using the below link:
Request information | North Yorkshire Police
Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. It should be noted therefore that the OPFCC’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.
Complaint Rights
Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of complaint.
If you have any queries concerning this request, please contact me quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Becky Cannon
Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
info@northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk
COMPLAINT RIGHTS
Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the decision is incorrect?
You have the right to request that the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire (OPFCC) reviews their decision.
Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.
Ask to have the decision looked at again –
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Complaint
If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision the OPFCC made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding access to information, you can lodge a complaint with the OPFCC to have the decision reviewed. The OPFCC must be notified of your intention to complain within 2 months of the date of its response to your Freedom of Information request. Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:
Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
Harrogate Police Station
Beckwith Head Road
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG3 1FR
In all possible circumstances the OPFCC will aim to respond to your complaint as soon as practicable but within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner
After lodging a complaint with the OPFCC if you are still dissatisfied with the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner please visit their website at https://ico.org.uk. Alternatively, phone: 0303 123 1113 or write to:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane, Wilmslow
Cheshire, SK9 5AF