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Retention and Disposal Policy

Policy Statement

The OPCC will ensure that information is not kept for longer than is necessary, and will retain the minimum amount of information that it requires to carry out its statutory functions. This policy supports the OPCC’s Publication Scheme and its Plans and Strategies and is designed to provide clarity and consistency in records management.

Introduction

Retention periods are given in whole years and are from the end of the financial year to which the records relate. Records should be disposed of by arranging for collection of confidential waste for destruction or shredding, including all copies on whatever format.

Aside from the standard procedure, set out below, whenever there is a possibility of litigation or a request under the Freedom of Information Act the records that are likely to be affected should not be amended or disposed of until the threat of litigation has ended or the appeal processes under the Freedom of Information Act have been exhausted. In these circumstances the Monitoring Officer (the Chief Executive) should be consulted.

A record of disposals in accordance with this policy should be completed and maintained by the Authority on an electronic database.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Act introduced rights of access to information whereby the public has a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, subject to certain exceptions (providing the public interest in disclosure does not outweigh the public interest in maintaining exemption).

Information is exempt from the provisions of the Act if it is accessible by other means. If the information is already covered in the OPCC’s Publication Scheme and is available via the website there will not be a requirement to provide that information in response to an individual request.

Aims and Objectives

It is recognised that information is a vital asset of the OPCC, which depends on reliable, up-to-date information systems to support the work that it does and the services provided to the communities of Staffordshire. This policy and standards will help the OPCC to:-

  • Ensure the retention and availability of the minimum amount of relevant information that is necessary for it to opera
  • Comply with legal and regulatory requirements, including the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Environmental Information Regulatio
  • Save employees’ time and effort when retrieving information by reducing the amount of information that may be held unnecessarily.
  • Minimise the administrative overhead to the OPCC and save money in terms of storage costs where hard copy information is taking up office space and electronic documents are using excessive storage capacity on computer equipment such as network server
  • Ensure archival records that are of historical value are appropriately retained for the benefit of future generations.

Standard Procedure

This procedure applies to records which do not need to be retained.
Information which is duplicated, unimportant or of short term use can be destroyed under this standard procedure, including:

  • compliment slips
  • catalogues and trade journals
  • telephone message slips
  • non-acceptance of invitations
  • messages or notes not related to OPCC business
  • requests for standard information provided by the Authority
  • out of date distribution lists
  • working papers which lead to a final report (including OPCC meeting papers)
  • duplicated and superseded material such as stationery, manuals, drafts, address books and reference copies of annual reports
  • e-copies of documents where a hard copy has been printed and filed

The attached Schedule set out the retention periods for particular records.

Records of Meetings Reports Outcome

Function

Records

Retention

Meeting

Agendas and reports
Indices Rough/draft/audio minutes

6 years
Destroy on completion of agreed document

PFCC Decision Log

Minutes
Decision form

7 years/Permanent

Partnership, agency & external meetings

Minutes
Agendas and reports

6 Years

Working Groups/Steering Groups

Minutes
Agendas and reports

6 Years

Appointment of Chief Constable & OPCC Officers & Staff

Advertisements
*Application forms Interview reports Personnel files

5 years
(1 Year for unsuccessful applicants)

Termination of Chief Constable & OPCC Staff contracts

Resignation, redundancy, dismissal, death, retirement

6 years after termination or, if pension paid
6 years after last pension payment

Complaints against Chief Constable & OPCC Officers

Correspondence

3 years (after the conclusion of the investigation)

Independent Custody Visiting Scheme

Minutes, agendas, reports, Registers of visits, Custody Visitor details & Handbook

6 years
3 years after end of appointment
Until superseded

Corporate planning & reporting

Policing plans
Strategy plans
Annual reports

Permanent

Statutory Inspections, reviews & external audit reports

HMI reports

Permanent

Casework

Records of Meetings
Reports
Outcome

6 years after last correspondence or interaction with individual

Complaints/Appeal Decisions

Papers
Bundles
Decisions

6 years

Police Appeal Tribunals

Papers
Bundles
Decisions

6 months following decision

FOI's

Request
Report

2 years

ROAR's

Request
Report

2 years

Police & Crime Commissioner

Function

Records

Retention

Registers of Members’ Interests & Hospitality

Register of Interests
Register of Hospitality

6 years

Expenses Claims (Including Volunteer expenses)

Claim Forms & Receipts

6 years

Management

Function

Records

Retention

Policy development

Policies
Standing Orders/Financial Regulations
Instructions/Procedures
Organisation Charts

Permanent until superseded or decommissioned

Information management

Filing indices
Records of transfer to archives
Summary of responses to enquiries
Disposal Record Reports/correspondence on OPCC actions
Routine responses to enquiries

6 years

Media relations

Media releases

2 Years

Marketing

Electronic newsletter

Until user opts out

Diaries & calendars

Electronic & manual diaries/calendars

I am a tooltip

3 years