As it has not answered some of your questions, citing commercial confidentiality or some other BS, you should now ask for an internal review. There is no need to withhold such information and other government agencies are providing these data. If it still fails to provide the info, then appeal to the IC. Irrespective of whether it gives you the info you want, it costs these organizations a fortune to respond to FOI requests from the public. The more they have to pay, the more is eroded from their fat profits from NGNs. They need to understand that using these numbers has consequences, one of which is that the public, who they are supposed to serve, has a right to know certain details! Good luck.

Thanks idb

I was still writing my 2nd bit when you posted your reply, so our messages crossed. Will add your comments into my letter

Graham

I will be making my own FOI request to Herts tomorrow. Even though I live 4500 miles away, I am a British citizen that has a right and possibly a need to contact police forces. One example - for US immigrant visas, and probably for some other countries, people need to obtain police certificates, as I did, before establishing permanent residence. Now if people are resident overseas only on tourist or temporary visas and need to contact the police force to obtain such certificates (as I had to), 0845 numbers are often not terminated from abroad. If these idiotic departments are shifting to discriminatory numbering systems, then I have no hesitation in submitting FOI requests that will probably cost them at least a hundred pounds to process and hopefully much more. Clueless government in the UK has to stop.

idb, mc661, Thanks for your support.

The email address for Herts Constabulary FOI requests is foi@herts.pnn.police.uk

Dave, good point about the lack of an answer to that question, I have incorporated a re-request into my follow up.

Hope it won't take them two months this time round...!

oh dear, herts have failed the 20 business working days to respond to my request, whooopsie. looks like im gonna have to do a section 50.

Information Compliance Office
Police Headquarters
Stanborough Road
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire AL8 6XF

Tel: 01707 354 659

3rd August 2005
Dear Councillor

Reference No: FOI00219

I write in connection with your request for information dated 22nd June 2005 concerning questions on 0870, 0845 and 0844 numbers and whether Hertfordshire Constabulary currently uses these numbers. This request was logged as received by the Hertfordshire Constabulary Information Compliance on 23rd June 2005. The deadline for Hertfordshire Constabulary to respond your request was 21st July 2005.

I sincerely apologise for the delay in responding to you and not being within the 20 working day time limit under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. I understand from your email of 28th July 2005 that you would like an internal appeal/review of your question prior to you then taking your concerns to the Information Commissioner. I replied to this email on 29th July 2005 attaching our internal appeals process. I also stated that a response to your request would be provided by 5th August 2005. A letter advising you of the next appeal session is also enclosed for your information.

In your request you asked the following questions and a response has been given underneath each question posed:

1. Do you use 0870 telephone numbers?
Hertfordshire Constabulary does not use 0870 numbers.
<snip>

2. Why do you use 0845 numbers?
This is a single use number for contact purposes to allow the public an easy to remember number should they wish to use it. The Hertfordshire Police Authority had requested a single contact number as part of the creation of a centralised call centre. A 01707 number is still published for those callers that wish to use it as an alternative contact telephone number.

2.1 And if so, what are the equivalent geographical numbers?
The equivalent geographical number is 01707 35 40 00.

2.2 What revenue do you receive per minute and in total from the use of 0845 numbers?
It is not possible to disclose this information as it is commercial in confidence. The exemptions used and public interest test applied in respect of this is question are detailed below.

2.3 Are you aware of the revenue collected by your telecom provider, from your callers?
It is not possible to disclose this information as it is commercial in confidence. The exemptions used and public interest test applied in respect of this is question are detailed below.

2.4 Have you considered the revised COI guidelines?
The revised COI guidelines were considered.

2.4.1 If so, what conclusions did you come to?
The guidelines provided some helpful advice however The Home Office also produced a document called Open All Hours which required police forces to be more open and accessible to members of the public and this document was also taken into consideration. The Call Handling section 7.3 on page 134 of this document states that forces must improve their response to non-emergency calls. Page 137 also discusses the use of a single non-emergency telephone number.
The web address for this document is:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmic/openallhours.pdf

2.5 Do you realise that all calls (local/national) cost the same regardless if calling from Penzance or Hatfield?
Hertfordshire Constabulary does realise that all calls to the 0845 number both local and national cost the same.

2.6 Do you realise that 0845 numbers now offer no cost advantage to callers, irrespective of their location, only disadvantages?
0845 numbers have advantages to callers who are not dialling a local number.
For some callers it could be argued that there are slight differences due to small differences in call cost should callers choose to use the 0845 number instead of the published local number. We feel that offering an easy to remember 0845 number is more beneficial to the community. All callers are still free to use the 01707 354000 published number should they wish to. The majority of our callers are local people.

2.7 Are you aware of the cost implications to your callers, when using 0845 numbers?
Hertfordshire Constabulary are aware that for some callers the cost may be marginally higher however the local published number is still available to them should they choose to use it instead of the 0845 number.

2.8 How much does it cost to call an 0845 number…
2.8.1 In the Daytime
It costs 3.36 pence per minute during the daytime.

2.8.2 In the Evening
It costs 1.26 pence per minute in the evening.

2.8.3 At weekends
It costs 0.85 pence per minute at weekends.

3. Why do you use 0844 numbers?
Hertfordshire Constabulary does not use 0870 numbers.
<snip>

Dear Councillor,

Reference: Formal Appeal against Hertfordshire Constabulary Freedom of Information Response:

Thank you for your email dated 28th July 2005 in which you have asked for your request for information dated 22nd June 2005 regarding the use of 0870, 0845 and 0844 numbers together with our response to this request, be placed before the next internal appeals panel.

I can confirm your request for a review will be placed before the Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Freedom of Information Appeal Panel on 27th September 2005.

A further copy of our appeals process has been provided for your information.

Yours sincerely
Suzy Johnson
Deputy Freedom of Information Officer
Information Compliance Office