Humberside Police - protecting communities, targeting criminals

Guide to Published Information 2009

As of 1 January 2009, the Information Commissioner has introduced a new model Publication Scheme that applies to all public authorities.

Explaining the Scheme

As of January 1, 2009 the Information Commissioner has introduced a new model Publication Scheme that applies to all public authorities. The scheme can be found on the Commissioner's website.

This document sets out the statutory requirements that each public authority must adhere to.

The model Scheme includes a commitment from the public authority to:

  • To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications below.
  • To specify the information held by the authority that falls within the classifications below.
  • To proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information in line with the statements contained within this scheme.
  • To produce and publish the methods by which the specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public.
  • To review and update on a regular basis the information the authority makes available under this scheme.
  • To produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is made proactively available.
  • To make this publication scheme available to the public.

The Information Commissioner has also published a series of Definition Documents specific to each sector. The Police Section document can be found on the Commissioner's website.

This document provides guidance to police forces on the type of information they should consider publishing. The guidance represents an expectation from the Commissioner of what information should be published and has been produced in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers. Some police forces may not hold all the information listed in the guidance and there is no obligation under the model Scheme to create information solely for the purpose of publication. This can lead to some variations between police forces in what information is published.