Disposal of Police uniforms (FOI)

​​​​​​Request

A

Does the States of Jersey Police department (SOJP) have a policy on the disposal or recycling of uniforms and items of police equipment supplied to police officers and staff? Please supply a copy of the relevant policies and procedures.

B

Are there any commercial arrangements for the disposal or recycling of uniforms where this is carried out by a third-party? If so, who is the third-party provider?

C

How are uniform items recycled or disposed of? 

D

Please provide a copy of any disposal or recycling agreements or contracts with commercial third-parties for uniforms and textiles. 

E

What items of equipment are included in respect of the above?

F

What uniform items and equipment are purchased and supplied to the SOJP via the National Uniform Managed Services (NUMS)? What is the unit cost for each individual item?

G

Does the SOJP have an end-of-life policy with respect to the disposal of uniforms via the National Uniform Managed Services (NUMS) or any other third party? If so, whom, and what is the cost of this service per item or weight or other method specified? Please provide a copy of the end of the relevant policy or document.

Response

The below responses have been provided by the States of Jersey Police (SOJP).

A

No written policies or procedural documents exist, although unserviceable clothing and uniform is disposed in a secure and responsible way.

​B, D and E

No arrangement with a third-party provider exists.

C

If uniform is used but serviceable and is not identifiable as uniform, then, subject to hygiene checks, these are provided to charities. Re-usable equipment that remains identifiable is either re-allocated to another officer (subject to hygiene checks) or disposed of by incineration. 

F

The SOJP is affiliated with the south-west region and benefits from police negotiated rates. Information about the unit cost of each item is exempt from disclosure as it is considered commercially sensitive. Article 33(b) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 is engaged and, as it is a qualified exemption, a public interest test has been provided below. 

G

No end-of-life policy with any third-party provider exists. 

Article applied

Article 33 - Commercial interests

Information is qualified exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes a trade secret; or

(b) its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of a person (including the scheduled public authority holding the information).

Public interest test

Although there is no direct contract between the States of Jersey Police (SOJP) and the 

supplier, prices paid by SOJP benefit from competitive prices that are aligned to contracts 

held by other UK forces in the south-west region.

Factors favouring disclosure

There is a legitimate public interest to disclose such information and be fully transparent so 

that the public may be satisfied that SOJP is obtaining body armour at a competitive price. 

Factors favouring non-disclosure

Disclosure of unit prices applicable to SOJP would likely undermine existing highly competitive agreements between UK forces and suppliers, and directly increase the prices paid by SOJP.

Balance test 

The public interest in maintaining competitive body armour pricing outweighs the public interest in disclosing such pricing data.​