Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant asked to be given 7 pieces of information associated with the recording of the offence of murder on the Police National Computer (PNC). The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) complied with parts 1 to 5 of the request but determined that it did not hold information on the PNC under the provisions of section 3(2)(b) of the Act. The NPIA also determined that, if it did hold the PNC information, the provisions of section 12 would apply as compliance with parts 6 and 7 would exceed the appropriate limit. The Commissioner finds that the NPIA holds information on the PNC otherwise than on behalf of the police forces, and therefore section 3(2)(b) does not apply. In failing to inform the complainant that it held PNC information, the NPIA breached section 1(1)(a) of the Act and in failing to do so within 20 working days it breached section 10(1). He agrees with the NPIA that the costs of complying with the request would exceed the appropriate limit and therefore it was not obliged to comply with the request under the provisions of section 12(1) of the Act.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 3 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 10 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 12 - Complaint Not upheld