misconduct hearing outcomes since 2020 (FOI Ref: 801/26)

FOI Request Reference: 801/26

Thank you for your request for information, received 31/3/2026

Request

Relating to Misconduct Hearing outcomes specifically Hearings including accelerated since the start of the 'Police Misconduct Regulations 2020'.

The Data that I seek is focused on the ethnicity of those Police Officers (not staff) who have received the following.

• Dismissal
• Reduction In Rank
• Final Warning
• Warning
• Reflective Practice
• No Further Action

I am only seeking ethnicity data, nothing else. I need to know the make-up of those officers sanctioned and if ethnicity had a bearing on this.

Response

We can confirm that some relevant information is held by West Midlands Police. However, while most of the information is included in this email.  I am not required to release all of the information requested.

Reasons for decision

The withheld information is exempt by virtue of the following exemptions

Section 40 (2) personal data

Section 40(2) is an absolute and class-based exemption if to release the information exists would breach the third party’s data protection rights.  In this case to release this personal information would not constitute fair processing of the data. As this exemption is class-based I am not required to identify the harm in disclosure and in this instance, I believe that the right to privacy outweighs any public interest in release. 

Any data less than 5, is exempt from release as the identification of an individual from that information would be likely.

Any further details regarding these incidents are exempt by the following:  

Section 40 (2) – Personal information