Operational partnerships - Disclosure of information to Business Crime Reduction Partnerships policy (O31)

1. Summary of changes

1.1. This policy has been reviewed in September 2024 - no amendments to content have been made. 

2. What this policy is about

2.1. The purpose of this policy is to provide Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRP's) with information to make balanced decisions in relation to exclusion notices. The objectives are:

(a) to provide partnerships with relevant information, to enable them to make balanced decisions in relation to exclusion notices

(b) to reduce the opportunity for crime and anti-social behaviour

(c) to protect staff from acts of physical violence and verbal abuse which often leads to stress and related disorder

(d) to reduce the incidents of crime and fear of crime, which benefits staff, visitors and customers

Please note: For the purpose of this policy, personal data is as defined by the Data Protection Act 1998 as data:

“which relates to a living individual who can be identified from such data or from other information which is in the possession of, or is likely to come into the possession of, the data controller".

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedures is mandatory.  

3. Statement of policy

3.1. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 places a responsibility on Kent Police to work in partnership with other agencies in the furtherance of crime reduction. In line with Kent Police priorities (tackling crime and dealing with ASB) and Kent Police values (we will put the public first and deliver a service to be proud of). This policy has two main parts - the supply of personal data to Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRP's) working in partnership with Kent Police. It must be recognised that in law the general presumption is against disclosure of such data, but there are exceptions detailed below.

3.2. BCRP’s are entities in their own right and made up of members from all sectors of the business community working in partnership to reduce crime against businesses.

3.3. There are accredited standards recognised nationally for BCRP's which, demonstrate that partnerships operate to the highest standards and are working closely with other agencies. Kent Police will only disclose personal information to or participate in the service of exclusion notices for accredited partnerships or others who are demonstrably working towards such a standard as outlined below.

3.4. Personal data may be disclosed, for the purpose of this policy:

To achieve the objective and comply with Kent Police’s Data Protection Registration the Data Protection Act 1998, applying the eight data protection principals and human rights considerations by applying the PLANE (proportionate, legal, accountable, necessary, ethical) principles. 

4. Implications of policy

4.1. All requests for information and personal data will be facilitated by the use of the form K-MIP record of sharing in order to provide an auditable process and be transmitted by secure means.

5. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

5.1. This policy has been assessed with regard to its relevance to race and diversity equality. As a result of this assessment the policy has been graded as having a medium potential impact. 

6. Monitoring and review

6.1. Continued monitoring of this policy will be carried out by the Crime Reduction Project Officer responsible for BCRPs at FHQ. This policy is next due for review in September 2026. 

7. Related force policies and procedures

• S401 - the supply of police photographs/images/intelligence 
• W1014 - information sharing agreements 

8. Other source documents

• Data Protection Act 1998
• Human Rights Act 1998
• MoPI (Chapter 6)
• The Kent and Medway Information Sharing Agreement (ISA). The BCRP's are accredited and follow their own ISA allowing data sharing with each other and the police

9. Security

9.1. Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management policy.

10. Retention and disposal of records

10.1 Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal policy.