Dress code for Safer Neighbourhood Teams and Response Teams

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.21.021298

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. When Safer Neighbourhood Teams and Response Teams wear plain-clothed / covert carry, what is the policy regarding what they wear

2. Do taser authorised officers wear a yellow hat and non-taser authorised officers wear a blue hat?

Decision

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 – Law Enforcement

Reason for decision

Freedom of Information requests are not private transactions and any release of information under the Act is a disclosure to the world, as it is then published on the MPS website. We must therefore consider the harm that could be caused to our law enforcement capabilities and resources when we disclose information under the Act and providing information that would reveal the how to identify Taser authorised officers and non-Taser authorised officers could reveal capability that would give criminals an enhanced knowledge of our operational capabilities and highlight deficiencies/tactics to criminals.

As explained above, once information is released under FOIA it is published on the MPS website and considered to be a release to the world and the MPS then has no control over what use is made of that information. Whilst not questioning the motives of the applicant, providing details of how to identify Taser authorised officers and non-Taser authorised officers would reveal our capabilities and could prejudice operational policing by highlighting deficiencies/tactics to criminals.

The security of the country is of paramount importance and the MPS will not divulge information if to do so would place the safety of individuals at risk or undermine our law enforcement functions. To provide the details requested would allow interested parties to gain an upper hand with greater awareness of our policing capabilities, which undermines the operational integrity of our activities, which will adversely affect public safety and impact negatively on law enforcement.

Therefore, it would not be in the best interest of the public to release any information that would undermine our law enforcement functions.

To confirm how to identify Taser authorised officers and non-Taser authorised officers would give criminals an enhanced knowledge of our operational capabilities and highlight deficiencies/tactics to criminals. This would ultimately significantly undermine any ongoing or future operations to protect the security or infrastructure of the country.

The public entrust the Police Service to make appropriate decisions with regard to their safety and protection and the only way of reducing risk is to be cautious with what information is placed into the public domain. We therefore consider that releasing this information into the public domain would be harmful.

Disclosure

To answer Question 1, please refer to the document below a the link to the Dress Code and Appearance Policy
 
Introduction

Important

This information is Met policy. Anyone who works for the Met, including contractors and volunteers, must comply with it.

If you’re a line manager, you’re responsible for settling disputes about dress code at B/OCU level, referring to this policy.

Modes of dress - Uniform Appearance

General appearance

• You should look professional, clean and neat at work and in all situations where you’re representing the Met.
• Your clothing should suit the work you're doing and be health and safety compliant.
• If you’re challenged on your appearance by a supervisor, take steps to address it.
• We don't have 'dress down' days at the Met. Clothing definitions have been added below for ease of reference.
• Don’t chew gum or smoke when dealing with members of the public or in public view.

Smart business attire is the default for non-uniform officers and staff

Standards of dress should assist in bringing an appropriate degree of formality to the workplace. A professional image is important when dealing with colleagues and internal customers as well as the public. For example: a) Training shoes, flip flops or similar footwear are not acceptable. Safety footwear may be required by risk
assessment. b) Formal or tailored trousers, skirts may be worn. Jeans, shorts, tracksuit bottoms, vest
tops, tank tops or similar, irrespective of colour, are not acceptable. Ties are optional. c) Business suits are acceptable. These are the preferred style of dress whenever staff are representing the Force at events.

Plain clothes

Casual clothing – Shorts and vests/tank tops, sandals/flip flops must not be worn, Covert (white) Met Vest worn under clothing, Covert equipment carriage harness, BWV carried using clothing clip or covert equipment carriage harness, Equipped with “POLICE OFFICER” lanyard for warrant card (being rolled out as part of Project Fortress)
Equipped with “POLICE OFFICER” baseball cap (high vis for unarmed or Taser officers), Equipped with a “POLICE” arm-band (optional)

Discreet clothing

Business attire / Casual Clothing, Overt Met Vest, Overt Belt Kit / Tac Vest

Unsuitable clothing

It is down to individual Head of Units to locally set the standard of what is/isn’t acceptable to wear in a non-public facing environment. It is recognised that there are a variety of roles and working environments that staff and officer’s work from that require different types of clothes and footwear to be worn in a non-public facing role. Any standards set locally should be in line with local health and safety risk assessments undertaken. When setting the standard styles of clothes worn should always be professional in appearance in accordance with the values of the MPS. In situations where there is a dispute, then the Chief Officer will be expected to resolve these situations Dress down days are permitted for charity raising events for staff or officers in non-public facing roles at the discretion of the Head of Unit.

Line managers

If you’re a line manager making a decision about dress code, you must consider:
• health and safety
• hygiene
• ethnicity, religion and belief
• temperature
• equality
• gender
• medical factors
• reasonable adjustment needs

If you need to tell someone to comply with the code, you must be able to explain your decision.