Information on special operations room

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.027100

I note you seek access to the following information:

I am writing to you today to gain information on your special operations room.

1) What does this room do within policing? What purpose does it serve

2) I have been told every BCU will have a 400 (SN400) which is the Operations Duty Officer when would you contact this officer /or when would SN400 contact you.

3) please provide any other information relating to the special operations room or SN400.

Decision

Having considered the requested information for release under the Act, I have found that questions 2 and 3 are 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 - Law Enforcement

Reason for decision

It is of note that whilst the MPS has previously released call signs under the Act, with the passage of time, the call sign structure and policy has radically changed. The information in the public domain is now obsolete and of little operational value. The Met’s new approach to call signs better identifies the skills and capabilities of each unit and would therefore be of value to the offender should they be released.

Section 31(1)(a)&(b) - Law Enforcement - provide that any information is exempt if its disclosure under the Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime or the apprehension or prosecution of offenders.

I have claimed this exemption in that the release and publication of the Met’s call signs would provide persons intent disrupting the work of the MPS and/or evading detection by police, with information that would assist them in this endeavour.

The provision to refuse access to information under Section 31(1)(a) and (b) is both qualified and prejudice based. I am accordingly required to conduct a public interest test to determine whether the 'public interest' lies in disclosing or withholding the requested information. In addition to conducting a public interest test, I must also establish the nature of the prejudice/harm that would result from disclosure and where prejudice/harm is established but not certain, determine the likelihood of it occurring.

Harm to the Ability of the MPS to Prevent and Detect Crime - Call signs are assigned to specific MPS units, vehicles and/or officers and are used to contact them, provide them with information and/or direct them to incidents. Should a criminal gain access to a police radio, the call signs would inform the offender of the location and capability of MPS assets and/or the information that has been relayed to them. This would be likely to disrupt local policing and assist the offender to avoid detection. Ultimately the public release of this information would be likely the adversely affect the ability of the MPS to prevent and detect crime and apprehend those that commit offences, contrary to the public interest.

It is of note that whilst the MPS has previously released call signs under the Act, with the passage of time, the call sign structure and policy has radically changed. The information in the public domain is now obsolete and of little operational value. The Met’s new approach to call signs better identifies the skills and capabilities of each unit and would therefore be of value to the offender should they be released.

Having considered your request, I accept that there is a public interest in transparency when any request is made for police information. The public interest favouring release must be balanced against any associated risk and/or prejudice that would be caused through disclosure. Having carefully considered this, I have found that that the public release of the Met’s current call signs would, should a criminal gain access to a police radio, inform the offender of the location and capability of MPS assets and/or the information that has been relayed to them. This would disrupt local policing and assist the offender to avoid detection. For these reasons, I have found that the release of the requested call signs is not in the public interest. I have accordingly refused to release this information to you.

Disclosure

Please find below information in relation to question 1

What does this room do within policing? What purpose does it serve

The Special Operations Room provides comprehensive command and control facilities for pre-planned policing operations and extended major incidents. The largest of its kind in UK policing, it manages around 2,000 events a year, from elite sports occasions to demonstrations and ceremonial events such as Trooping the Colour.