National Police Freedom of Information and Data Protection Unit (NPFDU)
The NPFDU acts as a national coordination body in providing professional advice and support for forces and stakeholders in all matters relating to both freedom of information (FOI) and data protection (DP) within the UK police service.
The activities of the NPFDU include:
- Provide advice and support on FOI and DP.
- Respond to FOI requests on behalf of the NPCC
- Coordinate and contribute to the strategic development of the FOI Act throughout the police service.
- Maintain and develop relationships with partner agencies, regulatory bodies and requestors at a national level.
- Produce and deliver FOI and DP training, workshops and professional development events
- Ensure national policing leads are able to contribute to information disclosure.
- Contribute and coordinate national data sharing agreements on behalf of UK policing
- Attend national and regional Digital, Data and Technology Coordination Committee (DDaT) portfolio meetings.
Key Deliverables:
- To research and provide professional FOI and DP advice for forces in consultation with national policing leads and other stakeholders.
- To discharge the responsibilities of the NPCC in responding to FOI requests submitted to the body.
- To discharge the responsibilities of the NPCC in responding to DP subject access requests submitted to the body.
- Provide support and direction to regional FOI and DP meetings.
- Provide a regular FOI Steering Group for UK policing and regional representatives.
- Represent UK police forces at the National Security Liaison Group (NSLG).
- Deliver professional development events for FOI and DP managers, supervisors and practitioners.
- Deliver annual FOI and DP national update workshops.
National Data Sharing Agreements
One of the key responsibilities of the National Police Freedom of Information and Data Protection Unit (NPFDU) is to coordinate national data sharing agreements on behalf of UK policing. This includes supporting the work of the NPCC Data Sharing Quality Assurance (QA) Panel.
The QA Panel comprises regional data compliance experts from all UK police forces, the Home Office, and the National Crime Agency (NCA). The panel convenes monthly to review and assess new data sharing agreements, ensuring alignment with UK data protection legislation. Their role includes providing expert feedback and, where appropriate, endorsing agreements prior to final approval by the relevant operational policing lead.
This collaborative approach has facilitated the development of several high-level data sharing agreements which can be found below:
Performance Monitoring
Latest performance monitoring reports