Freedom of Information and Publication Scheme

The Freedom of Information Act (FOI) applies to all information we hold with the exception of personal information about individuals, which is covered by the Data Protection Act.

FOI has been introduced by the Government to make it easier for members of the public to gain access to public sector information.

Under the Act, from 1st January 2005, members of the public have the right to ask Wiltshire Probation Area for information we hold either in paper format or electronically. Unless this information falls within one of the exempt categories laid down by the Act, we will be required to confirm that we hold the information, and supply it to them within 20 working days. In practice, very few of the exemptions will apply to any of the information held by the Probation Service, although personal records are exempt as they are covered by the Data Protection Act 1998.

We are also required to proactively make information available to the public via a publication scheme listing all information readily available to the public either in paper format or via the area website. Please see the Information Centre on this website for documents available under the publication scheme. The Act is retrospective and applies to all information held by the Probation Area no matter how old it is nor how out of date it is.

Structure of the publication scheme

The Wiltshire Probation Board Publication Scheme provides a route map so you can find information held by the Probation Board quickly and easily.

The purpose of this publication scheme is to make information readily available before you need to ask for it.  The scheme specifies:

• the classes of information we publish or intend to publish
• the manner in which we publish or intend to publish information in each class and
• whether the material is or is intended to be available free of charge or on payment.

The Wiltshire Probation Board seeks to be as open as possible, and complies with the general  right of access as defined under section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Responsibility for the publication scheme

The Assistant Chief Officer for Business Development and Partnerships within the local  probation area has overall responsibility for this publication scheme.  The person responsible for maintaining the publication scheme on a daily basis is the Information Access Officer:

Information Access Officer
Wiltshire Probation Area
Head Office
Rothermere
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JQ

The Ministry of Justice leads on policy related to the Act and the Codes of Practice for public authorities on compliance and records management for which the Act provides.  Their address is:

Ministry of Justice
Selborne House
54 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6QW

The Information Commissioner has a duty to promote best practice under the Act and to ensure compliance. The address is:

The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
SK9 5AF

The Commissioner’s website www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk carries useful guidance and reports, as well as information about the role of the Commissioner.

Obtaining documents or information under the publication scheme

Please see the Information Centre on this website for documents available under the publication scheme. For those without Internet access, documents published on the internet can be provided in hard copy when requested from the address below.

This address should also be used if requesting information not available on the website.

Information Access Officer
Wiltshire Probation Area
Head Office
Rothermere
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JQ

Does it cost anything?

Information will be provided free of charge, except where:

• there is a substantial administrative cost in providing it – where this is the case we will provide details
• there is a cover charge indicated for a published document
• glossy or other bound paper copies, or in some cases a CD rom, video or other mediums, are provided.

No charge will be made for information carried on the website.

Complaints

If you have a complaint about the operation of the publication scheme or how the Probation Board has dealt with a request for information, you should write to the Information Access Officer at the address set out in paragraph 7 above.   If you are unhappy with the outcome, or do not wish to discuss the matter with that officer, then you may contact the Chief Officer at the address below:

Chief Officer
Wiltshire Probation Service
Head Office
Rothermere
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JQ

What is available under the publication scheme?

This Publication Scheme aims to make large amounts of local probation information readily accessible to the public, on a continuous basis.  The Board is committed to releasing more material in the future.

The Board will make available information under the following classes:

Development and implementation of probation policy

Class: Studies, research reports, statistical compilations by internal staff and external specialists that are relevant to current performance and the development of policy proposals

Class: Inspectorate reports and responses, Ombudsman decisions, subject to data protection legislation

Class: Explanatory background to local policy proposals and decisions

Class: Local guidance including hostels regimes/rules, schedules of locally delivered
programmes and interventions

Class: Public consultation documents, supporting documents and responses

Role, function and management of probation services locally

Class: Annual reports, business plans, board and committee meeting agendas and minutes

Class: Organisation charts, lists of services provided, with contact details

Class: Personnel policies, local recruitment policy or initiatives, leaflets, careers packs

Class: Explanatory material on the Probation Board's dealings with the public, including rules, procedures, internal guidance and administrative manuals

Information for the public

Class: FOI scheme

Class: Local complaints procedure

Class: Details of enforcement and compliance actions and rulings in cases that have been the subject of appeals

Class: Victims support leaflets, local policy/practice statement

Procurement, grants, loans and guarantees

Class: Procurement and supplier policies

Class: Information on specific projects including bidding opportunities, decision criteria, contract performance standards, results of regular performance reviews

Class: Schedule of contracts awarded

Class: Policies on the awarding of grants, loans and the provision of guarantees; details of grants and loans awarded, guarantees provided, details of reviews and outcomes.

Keynote speeches

Class: Speeches and presentations by local senior management

Press notices/media campaigns

Class: Area press notices/briefings

Class: Local media campaign documentation

Newsletters

Class: Locally produced newsletters and similar communication.

The Probation Board will review the publication scheme annually and will monitor it regularly.