In accordance with 1 (1) (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I can advise you that South Yorkshire Police does hold the information you request.

Your request for information has been considered and I am not obliged to supply the information you have requested. Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires South Yorkshire Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which:  

(a)        states that fact;

(b)        specifies the exemption in question and;

(c)        states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.       

The following exemption applies to the disclosure of the information:

Section 12 – Exemption where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit

Having attempted to source the information that you require in regards to police officers and staff dismissals, I have discovered that there have been a total of 558 police staff resignations and 25 dismissals along with 108 police officer resignations and 10 dismissals.

Unfortunately, to go into the reasons behind each dismissal/resignation would require a manual trawl of each individual record, which on average takes ten minutes for each one. As this would take roughly two weeks to complete, as per the Act it is over the allowed time limit.

The Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 provide that the cost limit for non central government public authorities is £450. This must be calculated at the rate of £25 per hour, providing an effective time limit of 18 hours.

However, in accordance with Section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act we are obliged to assist you and as a goodwill gesture I have provided a breakdown of the numbers by year.

Police Staff

Police Officers