Dyfed Powys Police is providing monthly reports to the Information Commissioner’s Office over the way which it deals with Freedom of Information requests, Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood has learnt.
The force has taken on four temporary information officers in an attempt to clear a huge backlog of requests from the media, politicians, organisations and individuals.
In the summer Leanne Wood sought information from the four Welsh police forces on how many requests met the 20 day initial limit set under the Freedom of Information Act.
Dyfed Powys failed to respond then but it has now been revealed that of the 803 requests it received in 2008-09 just 263 were completed within 20 days.
Leanne Wood, who represents South Wales Central, said: “I’m pleased that he Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has agreed an action plan with Dyfed Powys and is providing details of its Freedom of Information performance on a monthly basis to the ICO.
“The public and other organisations should not have to wait months and months for what in many cases are straight-forward requests for information. Openness and transparency is vital.”
Leanne Wood was told that the case of one request received by Dyfed Powys on January 2008 was not closed until November 13th, 2009 – almost two years.
Leanne Wood added: “Under our current devolution settlement, Wales does not have the powers of scrutiny over police activity even though the Assembly does provide funding to the police service.
“Any detailed scrutiny of the police forces in Wales comes via scrutiny of the Home Office but I believe that the Welsh Assembly should be given the powers to deal with the police services as well as prisons, probation, the courts and sentencing so that we can better apply policies which suit Welsh needs.”
