Chief Constable Northamptonshire Police

The complainant has requested a list of all third party suppliers and contractors involved in the handling, storage, analysis, or management of live evidence (physical or digital) for Northamptonshire Police. The request was refused and Northamptonshire Police applied sections 31(1)(a) and (b) – law enforcement. The Commissioner’s decision is that Northamptonshire Police is entitled to rely on sections 31(1)(a) and (b) to withhold the requested information. However, the Commissioner considers that Northamptonshire Police breached section 10(1) as it failed to confirm the requested information was held within 20 working days of receipt of the request. It also breached section 17(1) FOIA in failing to provide a valid response to the request within the statutory timeframe of 20 working days. The Commissioner does not require further steps.