Freedom of information internal review process

We are committed to ensuring transparency and providing as much information as possible through the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. However, if you are dissatisfied with our response to your FOI request, you have the right to request an internal review.

What is an internal review?

An internal review is a formal process that allows us to reconsider our response to your FOI request. This review will assess whether we handled your request correctly, including the application of exemptions, timeliness of our response, and any other aspects of the original handling.

How to request an internal review

To request an internal review, please contact us within 40 working days of receiving our initial response. Your request should be sent in writing, either by email or post, to the address provided below. Please include:

• Your FOI reference number
• A summary of the reason(s) for requesting a review 
• Any additional information that you believe may assist with the review

Email: [email protected]

Freedom of Information Unit

West Midlands Police

Lloyd House

Colmore Circus Queensway

Birmingham

B4 6NQ

Our commitment to a fair review

The review will be conducted by a member of the team who did not deal with the request; this could be another member of the FOI team, or the FOI unit manager. Our goal is to ensure that our response complies with the Freedom of Information Act and that we have met all of our obligations to you under the Act.

Timescale for review

We aim to complete the internal review within 20 working days of receiving your request. In exceptional cases where more time is required, we may extend this timeframe to 40 working days. If this happens, we will inform you of the delay and provide an expected completion date.

Possible outcomes

Following the internal review, we may:

• Uphold the original decision
• Provide additional information if it is determined that more should be disclosed
• Modify or withdraw any exemptions applied to your request

What if I remain dissatisfied?

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO is the UK’s independent authority that oversees compliance with FOI legislation.

You can contact the ICO at:

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Website: https://ico.org.uk/