FOI 372/25

REQUEST 

I would like to request the following information for the last 3 financial years:

 

1. Provide the number of Police support staff members, split by unit

 

1. Provide the total number of Uniformed Police Officers, split by district or division

 

1. Provide the total workforce attrition rate  split into resignations, dismissals and retirements

 

1. Provide the number of workforce absentees between 3-6 months and 6+ months

 

1. What is the overtime spend

 

• Overtime spent on specific activities e.g OT resulting from planning an operation; OT bill for all POPS operations in the last 12 months

 

1. How many locations do you have staff working on a shift pattern

 

1. How many rosters and shift patterns for the entire workforce

 

1. Please confirm who currently supplies your software for duty management/rostering?

 

• Can you also confirm when that contract ends, and the annual licensing cost for the latest accounting period, plus any additional customisation costs over the last 5 years (if applicable)

 

1. Do you use any software for long term workforce planning, outside the software you use for rostering?

 

Clarification:

 

Question 1 – the applicant would like information on the last three financial years

 

Question 2 – the applicant would like the number of all officers

 

Question 3 – the applicant would like information on the last three financial years (2022, 2023 and 2024)

 

Question 4 – the applicant would like information on the last three financial years (2022, 2023 and 2024)

 

Question 5 – the applicant would like the cost of all overtime attached to operational activity

 

Question 6 – the applicant has confirmed they require a list of all the South Wales Police stations as well as any admin offices

RESPONSE

 

Questions 1 – 4

 

We have consulted with our Human Resources Department who have provided us with the information.

Question 1

 

Staff as at 31st March 2022:
Division/Department	Sum of Head Count
BCU Central	196
BCU Eastern	236
BCU Western	180
K All Wales Collaboration	3
K Chief Officers	2
K Corporate Communications	32
K Corporate Finance	39
K Corporate Services	67
K Digital Services	70
K Estates	57
K Fleet Management	32
K GMB	1
K Human Resources	87
K Information Services	213
K Joint Commercial Services & Procurement Unit	19
K Joint Firearms Unit	20
K Joint Legal Services	16
K Joint Scientific Investigation Unit	106
K Learning & Development	77
K National Data Management Centre
K Operational Support Services	746
K PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers)	24
K Police Sport South Wales	1
K Professional Standards & Vetting	33
K Special Legal Casework	7
K Specialist Crime	176
K Tarian ROCU (Regional Organised Crime Unit)
K Unison	3
K WECTU (Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit)
K WECTU - Special Branch
K Welsh Government - Police Liaison Unit	4
Career Break	5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continued…

Staff as at 31st March 2023:
Division/Department	Sum of Head Count
BCU Cardiff & Vale	232
BCU Mid Glamorgan	207
BCU Swansea Neath Port Talbot	193
K All Wales Collaboration	3
K Chief Officers	2
K Communities, Partnerships & Cohesion	16
K Corporate Communications	33
K Corporate Finance	41
K Corporate Services	50
K Crime & Criminal Justice	159
K CTP (Counter Terrorism Policing) Wales
K Digital Services	71
K Estates	62
K Fleet Management	27
K GMB	1
K Human Resources	92
K Information Services	210
K Joint Commercial Services & Procurement Unit	20
K Joint Firearms Unit	20
K Joint Legal Services	16
K Joint Scientific Investigation Unit	103
K Justice Services	138
K Learning & Development	78
K National Data Management Centre
K Operational Support Services	645
K PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers)	24
K Police Sport South Wales	1
K Professional Standards & Vetting	34
K Public Protection & Safeguarding	40
K Special Legal Casework	7
K Tarian ROCU (Regional Organised Crime Unit)
K Unison	2
K Welsh Government - Police Liaison Unit	5
Career Break	4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continued…

Staff as at 31st March 2024:
Division/Department	Sum of Head Count
BCU Cardiff & Vale	205
BCU Mid Glamorgan	184
BCU Swansea Neath Port Talbot	162
K All Wales Collaboration	7
K Chief Officers	2
K Communities, Partnerships & Cohesion	20
K Corporate Communications	29
K Corporate Finance	38
K Corporate Services	57
K Crime & Criminal Justice	265
K CTP (Counter Terrorism Policing) Wales
K Digital Services	84
K Estates	62
K Fleet Management	30
K GMB	1
K Human Resources	94
K Information Services	236
K Joint Commercial Services & Procurement Unit	22
K Joint Firearms Unit	22
K Joint Legal Services	20
K Joint Scientific Investigation Unit	141
K Learning & Development	79
K National Data Management Centre
K Operational Support Services	660
K Police Sport South Wales	2
K Professional Standards & Vetting	34
K Safeguarding & Public Protection	88
K Special Legal Casework	8
K Tarian ROCU (Regional Organised Crime Unit)
K Unison	3
K Welsh Government - Police Liaison Unit	6
Career Break	5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continued…

Question 2

 

Officers as at 31st March 2022:
Division/Department	Sum of Head Count
BCU Central	675
BCU Eastern	824
BCU Western	600
K All Wales Collaboration	1
K Chief Officers	5
K Corporate Services	26
K Digital Services	22
K Human Resources	4
K Information Services	2
K Joint Firearms Unit	99
K Joint Scientific Investigation Unit	8
K Learning & Development	74
K Operational Support Services	416
K Police & Crime Commissioner's Office	1
K Police Federation	7
K Professional Standards & Vetting	28
K Specialist Crime	195
K Student Constables	185
K Tarian ROCU (Regional Organised Crime Unit)
K WECTU (Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit)
K WECTU - Special Branch
Career Break	9
Grand Total	3,181

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continued…

Officers as at 31st March 2023:
Division/Department	Sum of Head Count
BCU Cardiff & Vale	869
BCU Swansea Neath Port Talbot	655
K All Wales Collaboration	2
K Chief Officers	6
K Communities, Partnerships & Cohesion	5
K Corporate Services	17
K Crime & Criminal Justice	178
K CTP (Counter Terrorism Policing) Wales
K Digital Services	22
K Human Resources	3
K Information Services	1
K Joint Emergency Service Group	1
K Joint Firearms Unit	100
K Joint Scientific Investigation Unit	11
K Justice Services	17
K Learning & Development	78
K Operational Support Services	381
K Police & Crime Commissioner's Office	1
K Police Federation	8
K Professional Standards & Vetting	28
K Public Protection & Safeguarding	82
K Student Constables	183
K Tarian ROCU (Regional Organised Crime Unit)
K Welsh Government - Police Liaison Unit	1
Career Break	10
Grand Total	2,659

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continued…

Officers as at 31st March 2024:
Division/Department	Sum of Head Count
BCU Cardiff & Vale	841
BCU Mid Glamorgan	687
BCU Swansea Neath Port Talbot	601
K All Wales Collaboration	3
K Chief Officers	6
K Communities, Partnerships & Cohesion	6
K Corporate Services	17
K Crime & Criminal Justice	203
K CTP (Counter Terrorism Policing) Wales
K Digital Services	22
K Human Resources	4
K Information Services	3
K Joint Emergency Service Group	1
K Joint Firearms Unit	96
K Joint Scientific Investigation Unit	25
K Learning & Development	76
K Operational Support Services	391
K Police & Crime Commissioner's Office	1
K Police Federation	8
K Professional Standards & Vetting	31
K Safeguarding & Public Protection	272
K Student Constables	125
K Tarian ROCU (Regional Organised Crime Unit)
Career Break	11
Grand Total	3,430

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continued…

Question 3

 

Officer and Staff Leavers 1st April 2021 - 31st March 2024:
Headcount	Year
Reason	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24	Total
Dismissal	8	7	9	24
Other	22	28	41	91
Resignation	233	285	288	806
Retirement	188	158	146	492
Total	451	478	484	1,413

 

 

Question 4

 

Officer and Staff Absentees
Length	2022	2023	2024
3-6 Months	258	275	351
6+ months	80	102	129

 

In relation to the redacted figures, this has been considered and I am not obliged to supply this information.

 

In relation to this part of your request, the following exemption applies:

 

Section 31(1)(a) - Law Enforcement

 

Section 31 is a qualified, prejudice-based exemption and the legislators accept that there may be harm if released. The authority is therefore required to articulate the harm that may be caused and consider the public interest arguments for and against the disclosure of the information.

 

Overall Harm

 

A disclosure in response to a Freedom of Information request is not a disclosure to the individual applicant but a release into the public domain. It is important that a police force safeguards its effective and efficient service and does not disclose information that could undermine that.

 

Disclosure of officer and staff numbers could compromise law enforcement capabilities as this could be used by criminals to exploit vulnerabilities.

 

Public Interest Considerations

 

Section 31 Factors favouring disclosure

 

The general public would be better informed about the use of public funds and this would enable improved public debate.

 

Section 31 Factors favouring non-disclosure

 

The police service has a duty to deliver effective law enforcement ensuring the prevention and detection of crime, apprehension or prosecution of offenders and administration of justice is carried out appropriately. They will not reveal detail, no matter how generic, which would compromise effective law enforcement. It would not be in the public interest to release information that may be of assistance to anyone involved in criminal activity.

Balancing Test

 

There is general public interest in promoting transparency especially when it concerns issues such as finance; however, to disclose the requested information would have a serious negative impact on the effectiveness of law enforcement and policing. This could result in more crime being committed and less crime detected. This would lead to an undermining of public confidence in the police.

 

In all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

This acts as a refusal notice for this part of your request.

 

Question 5

 

We have consulted with our Corporate Finance Department who have provided the below response to this part of your request.

 

The total amount spent on overtime in the last 12 months (1^st March 2024 – 28^th February 2025) is £13,928,295.

 

Please note that this includes spend in collaborative units, so may not be funded solely by South Wales Police.

 

Question 6

 

We have consulted with our Basic Command Units (BCUs) who have provided is with the information.

Question 6

 

101 House

Aberafan Shopping Centre

Aberdare

Aberkenfig

Barry

Blaenymaes

Bonymaen

Bridgend Bridewell

Brynmill

Calon Las

Canton

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Central

Cathays

Clydach

Cockett

Cowbridge

Cymmer

Dowlais

Ely

Fairwater

Ferndale

Glynneath

Gorseinon

Hirwaun

Lakeside

Liberty Stadium

Llanedeyrn

Llanishen

Llantwit Major

Maesteg

Marina Cabin Office

Merthyr Bridewell

Merthyr Bus Stat

Montana (Room Only)

Morriston

Mountain Ash

Mumbles

Neath

Penarth

Penclawdd (Room Only)

Penlan

Pontardawe

Pontarddulias

Pontycymmer

Pontypridd

Porth

Porthcawl

Pyle

Ravencourt

Reynoldston

Rhydyfelin

Roath

Rumney

Sandfields

Seven Sisters

Sketty

Swansea Central Police Station

Talbot Green

Ton Pentre

Tonyrefail

Townhill

Treharris

Ystalyfera

Question 7

 

We have consulted with our Force Operations and Planning Department who have provided the below response.

 

South Wales Police and Gwent Police are in collaboration and use the same rostering system. At present, there are 2,631 shift patterns across the two organisations.

 

Unfortunately, due to the way in which the information is recorded, this cannot be broken down to identify how many shift patterns are in place for South Wales Police.

 

The high number of shift patterns includes flexible shift patterns authorised for specific areas of policing and also supports the force’s considerations of welfare and inclusiveness (flexible working arrangements).

 

Questions 8 & 9

 

We have consulted with our ICT Department who have provided us with the information.

 

GRS and Total Mobile currently supply the duty management/rostering software for South Wales Police.

The total licensing cost for the latest accounting period, including any additional costs over the last five years is £244,009.

 

The contract ends on 30^th November 2029.

 

South Wales Police does not use any other software for long-term workforce planning.