FOI 1156-2024/25 Officer Numbers

Request
Q1. Please provide the number of warranted FTE officers at each rank. I need the numbers for each rank from Constable (including student officers) through to Chief Constable. 

I would expect the number to include those acting up, so I have data about the roles. That is to say, if a Constable is acting up in the role of Sergeant, I would expect them to be counted as a Sergeant.

I need to know the make up of the force. 

I appreciate that numbers are dynamic and you will be providing a snapshot at a specific point in time.

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information
To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police.

I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police.  

Decision
I have today decided to disclose the following information to you.

Q1. I am exempting this information pursuant to Sections 21 and 22 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) on the basis that it is available by other means using the below publicly available information (Section 21) and intended for future publication (Section 22):

Police workforce open data tables - GOV.UK

The data relating to 31 March 2024 is already available, with the data relating to 31 March 2025 expected to be published at a later date.

Exemption Explanation

Section 17 of the Act requires North Yorkshire Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

Section 21 – Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means
Section 21 is an absolute class based exemption and I am not required to consider the harm or public interest when applying this exemption.

Section 22(1)(b) – Information Intended for Future Publication
Section 22 is a qualified exemption and as such is subject to a public interest test. This means that North Yorkshire Police have identified the exemption and have considered whether the public interest in not disclosing the information outweighed the public interest test in disclosing the information.

Although there is a public interest in knowing the details of FOI requests as this leads to greater transparency, Section 22 allows for circumstances when it is reasonable and correct for public authorities to delay the provision of information until it is made generally available through publication.

Pursuant to Section 17(1) of the Act this letter acts as a Refusal Notice in response to your request.

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 this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.