ONR Expenses Policy

• Date released: 29 January 2026
• Request number: FOI202601062
• Release of information under: FOIA

Information requested

1. Would you please provide a copy of the ONR expenses policy which pertains to travel and subsistence for ONR personnel carrying out their duties.
2. Would you please provide a copy of the governance process that ONR follows when delivering audits of travel and subsistence claims made by ONR personnel.
3. Would you please provide the total number of governance checks that that have been carried out on ONR personnel, over the 2025 calendar year, to confirm they have adhered to the ONR policy that pertains to travel and subsistence.
4. Would you please provide the total number of non-compliances found against the policy that pertains to travel and subsistence (as a result of the governance process), the types and numbers of non-compliances and the types and numbers of sanctions delivered against ONR personnel where non-compliances have been identified. It has come to my attention that the former ONR Finance Director and former Chief Information Officer, who both left ONR in Q4 2025 may have been found to have been in breach of the ONR policy that pertains to travel and subsistence prior to their departure from ONR.
5. Would you please confirm if one or both of them were found to be in breach of the ONR policy that pertains to travel and subsistence, and whether this is reflected in the figures requested in 3 and 4.
   
   It has also come to my attention that a Superintending Inspector, based in the ONR Cheltenham Office, who has a season ticket for Liverpool FC may have been "arranging" meetings in the ONR Bootle Office to coincide with home matches for Liverpool FC so that the his travel, hotel and food are all paid for via travel and subsistence operational costs.
   
   Apparently, this may have been going on for at least five years, with line manager knowledge, and given the number of times this may have occurred over the years, it is not a coincidence that so many of his meetings at the Bootle Office are centred around Liverpool FC matchdays. From an external perspective, the optics regarding this appear to be very challenging from an ONR reputational perspective.
6. Please confirm whether the above statement is correct.

If this type of activity leading to travel and subsistence claims occurs, does ONR consider these travel and subsistence claims to be appropriate from a compliance with the ONR expenses policy which pertains to travel and subsistence, and also morally defendable noting ONR personnel are public servants and how this would be perceived?

Information released

We confirm that under s.1 of the FOIA, we do hold the information you have requested, please see below for a response to each of your questions.

1. Would you please provide a copy of the ONR expenses policy which pertains to travel and subsistence for ONR personnel carrying out their duties.

Please see attachment for ONR’s expenses policy and principles.

2. Would you please provide a copy of the governance process that ONR follows when delivering audits of travel and subsistence claims made by ONR personnel.

Each month, the Finance Team performs a sample check of:

• Expenses paid;
• Hotel, rail and hire car bookings; and,
• Amounts claimed that look unusual or the description for what has been claimed needs further investigation.

From time-to-time, risk areas are targeted outside of the normal compliance checks. Checks are made to ensure the claims are in line with the policy. This includes, but is not limited to, the retention of accurate receipts, approvals granted and reason for travel.

3. Would you please provide the total number of governance checks that that have been carried out on ONR personnel, over the 2025 calendar year, to confirm they have adhered to the ONR policy that pertains to travel and subsistence.

From January 2025 to November 2025, 856 claims were checked. The December audit sample is currently underway.

4. Would you please provide the total number of non-compliances found against the policy that pertains to travel and subsistence (as a result of the governance process), the types and numbers of non-compliances and the types and numbers of sanctions delivered against ONR personnel where non-compliances have been identified.

Please see table below for further information. The information listed in the table is from January – November 2025, as the December audit sample is currently underway.

With regards to questions 5 to 7, we are not able to comment on specific employment matters, even where individuals are not named, where individuals could be identified from the information whether by the requester or others.

This is because such information constitutes personal data and release of the information would breach principle (a) of UK GDPR (lawfulness, fairness, and transparency) on the grounds that there is no lawful basis to process this data. In addition, releasing this personal data would also breach principle (b) of UK GDPR (purpose limitation) as the data was provided in relation to sensitive employment matters which carry a reasonable expectation of confidentiality.

Speaking in general terms, we can assure you that where potential breaches of any staff policy are identified, these are investigated in line with our internal procedures and, where appropriate, addressed through our disciplinary process in a proportionate manner.

Exemptions applied

None

Public Interest Test (PIT)

N/A