Deployment Base
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.023771
I note you seek access to the following information:
I refer to your previous response to the above-mentioned FOI requests, and specifically, your rejection of my "Request II" on the grounds that it would exceed the relevant hourly limit.
As I have progressed my research, I have seen the following reference in the Mayor's Public Access Strategy document of November 2017 (page 10):
"There is little relationship between the location of deployment bases or police stations and the MPS’ ability to respond to crimes and patrol effectively. The MPS currently has 33 bases where response officers start their shift, with officers quickly heading out on patrol and responding to incidents."
This would appear to suggest that data very similar to that sought in my Request II is held centrally. As such, I would be grateful if you could explain/provide:
1) The difference between a "deployment base" and a "police station" for the purposes of the above.
2) Whether the "bases where response officers start their shift" is intended to includes the "deployment bases" and (certain) "police stations" referred to in the first sentence, or whether ti refers only to "deployment bases"
3) The names/boroughs of the "33 bases where response officers start their shift" referred to above.
and
4) If available (and not causing the 18hour limit to be breached) the name/borough of the equivalent "bases where officers start their shift" within the MPS as at the end of 2010.
As noted, insofar as this relates to a previous request, I am submitting it directly to you, in the hope that it will be able to be dealt with promptly, given your previous kind assistance. However, to the extent that it is considered by you to require treatment as a new request, with a new 20WD timeframe, this would be preferable to not getting the data at all. I have therefore also copied the general FOIA request email addresses.
Thank you, and apologies for the rather delayed follow-up, it was only upon further reading of the Public Access Strategy that the similarity between deployment bases and the (self-defined) "response sites" in my Request II became clear.
Decision
Searches located information relevant to questions 1-3 of your request.
No information was located in relation to question 4 of your request. With the exception of front counters and custody suites, the MPS does not hold historic data as to where teams were based. The MPS is a dynamic organisation and service locations are continually changing to respond to changing nature of threats and the continued movement of crime and people with criminal intent around the Capital.
I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:
Section 31(1)(a)(b) - Law Enforcement
Reason for decision
Q3 - The names/boroughs of the "33 bases where response officers start their shift" referred to above.
To disclose this information would be likely to provide enough information for individuals (or groups of individuals) with criminal or malicious intent to disrupt our ability to fulfil our basic law enforcement functions. Individuals could use this information to hinder our ability to deploy resources safely and efficiently.
Section 31(1)(a)(b) of the Act, which governs Law Enforcement, is therefore engaged in respect of your request.
Section 31(1)(a)(b) Law Enforcement - Whilst the locations of operational police buildings are in the public domain, we do not release the nature of the functions or teams that reside in any given building outside of the Front Counter services and Custody suites. Persons with hostile intent could use information to either compromise or interfere with the police response ability; additionally this knowledge could cause specific sites to become higher value targets and be subject to increased risk of criminal or terrorist threats.
The release of the requested information within question 3 would reveal tactical capability and would place the MPS at a tactical disadvantage as outlined in the harm above. It cannot be in the public interest to disclose information which would undermine our ability to prevent and detect crime and bring offenders to justice. As detailed within the 'harm', this would be a valuable asset to individuals and/or organisations wishing to commit crimes. Disclosure would disrupt the deployment of units and officers to any crime which, in turn, would enable offenders to destroy evidence and evade apprehension.
Disclosure
Q1 - The difference between a "deployment base" and a "police station" for the purposes of the above.
Response teams deploy from ‘deployment bases’ as well as some buildings that have an historic title of ‘Police Station’ in their names. For analysis the MPS now use the definition that a Police Station is an operational building with a front counter and therefore public access, however, due to the historic nature of the Metropolitan Police Service many of our buildings still have ‘Police Station’ in their title but this does not necessarily have relevance for what the building is used for in the modern police service. We also refer to ‘response/deployment bases’ as those buildings from where the response teams deploy at the beginning of the shift. As another example, we also refer to Dedicated Ward Officer Hubs – these are the locations where our DWOs start their shift for neighbourhood policing. Any single building whether it has ‘Police Station’ in its title or not may have all (eg response, Front Counter, DWO, custody plus others) or only one of these services located within it depending on its size and location.
Q2 - Whether the "bases where response officers start their shift" is intended to include the "deployment bases" and (certain) "police stations" referred to in the first sentence, or whether it refers only to "deployment bases".
See answer above.