FI15604

Request

  1. How many persons travelling from France to Dover from 1 January 2025 to date, has Dover Council provided temporary accommodation?
  2. How many people currently on Electoral Register in Dover have dual France and UK citizenship?
  3. Does Dover Council own any residential property in France?
  4. Does Dover Council buy bulk French wines for shipping to Dover from France?
  5. Does Dover Council send financial information about France citizens staying in Dover to France government?
  6. Does Dover Council work in partnership with Dover Police?
  7. How many persons in Dover have been arrested in Dover this year on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant?

 

Response

  1. Zero.
  2. Under the Representation of the People Act 1983 as amended, the Council must appoint an officer of the Council to be the Returning Officer for any constituency or part of a constituency coterminous with or situated in the Council’s area. The Chief Executive is the appointed officer for the registration area of Dover District.  His appointment as Returning Officer (RO) and as Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is separate to his appointment as Chief Executive and, although appointed by the Council, both the Electoral Registration Officer and the Returning Officer’s responsibilities and duties are personal. An example of this is that the register of electors is deemed to be the property of the Electoral Registration Officer, not the local authority.  The Electoral Registration Officer and the Returning Officer do not carry out the duties on behalf of the local authority but in their own personal capacity. A list of public bodies and local authorities that are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act is available at the following website: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guidance-index/freedom-of-information-and-environmental-information-regulations/public-authorities-under-foia/. As you will see, the Freedom of Information Act does not list any person appointed under the Representation of the People Act 1983. It follows that the Electoral Registration Officer, Returning Officer or any other person appointed under the Act are not subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. The Council therefore does not hold this information.
  3. No.
  4. No.
  5. No.
  6. The Council has a Community Safety Partnership with Kent Police (who include the Dover Police) as well as other agencies.  Details are available on our website at https://www.dover.gov.uk/Community/Community-Safety/Community-Safety-Partnership.aspx
  7. The Council does not hold this information.  Kent Police can be contacted for this information and details of how to make a Freedom of Information to them can be found on their website at https://www.kent.police.uk/foi-ai/af/accessing-information/.