Criminal Convictions

Ref: FOI/22044 

RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST 

I am writing to confirm that the West Midlands Fire Service has now completed its search for the information you requested further to your freedom of information request. 

Please find below a summary of our findings. 

Request 

PART 1: 

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, We request the following information about the number "serving fire service employees" at your authority with: 

1. A criminal conviction of any kind 

2. A conviction for domestic violence 

3. A conviction for rape and sexual assault of adult or minor 

4. A conviction for downloading child pornography 

5. A conviction for indecent exposure 

Reply 

Nil 

Request 

PART 2: 

We also require information on how many serving Fire Service Employees at your authority have a) Attended internal disciplinary hearings b) have been suspended c) sacked or d) relocated for: 

6. Any kind of criminal conviction 

7. Domestic violence 

8. Rape and sexual assault of adult or minor 

9. Downloading child pornography 

10. Indecent exposure  

As you know, under the act you are required to provide a response within 20 days.  
If you do not provide the information requested, you must explain the legal basis for the information being withheld. If you decline part of the request due to information being sensitive, the request being too vague, or reasonable cost being exceeded, you must still provide the part you can fulfil. 

Reply 

Due there being less than 10 within the years that you have requested, in order to protect the identity of the data subjects involved, we are unable to provide any information as details about individual allegations are classed as personal data and therefore attracts a Section 40(2) exemption under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Disclosure of the information may cause damage and distress to the individuals involved so would therefore be unfair to disclose it and contravene principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.     

For your information, we recently responded to an FOI regarding sexual misconduct allegations. Please see link below: 

https://www.wmfs.net/foi/22024-sexual-misconduct-allegations/

If you have any queries about this Freedom of Information request, please contact us. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.  

For service complaints, issues or comments regarding this request please contact The Public Relations Department, West Midlands Fire Service, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW 

Further information concerning Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner website at either the following link: https://ico.org.uk/ or at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.