MPS Election Protocol
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.024379
I note you seek access to the following information:
On (approximately) 21 April 2022, Police investigating breaches of lockdown restrictions at Downing Street advised they will not be providing any more updates on new fixed-penalty notices re #Partygate until after next month’s local elections.
Please could you share a current copy of the MPS Election Protocol.
Please can you advise the date this protocol was effective for the local elections to be held on 5 May 2022.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
The MPS has provided updates at significant periods during the course of Operation Hillman ahead of the pre-election period, including on the number of referrals for Fixed Penalty Notices.
For the pre-election period, many public sector bodies - including the Civil Service, councils, the Greater London Authority, the police and others - follow pre-election period guidance which places restrictions on communications in the weeks preceding an election. The MPS follows the pre-election period guidance of both the Greater London Authority and central Government, as well as the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).
The MPS carefully considered the guidance provided and concluded that it would not be appropriate to issue any further updates during the pre-election period.
I have included below some relevant links to the guidance followed by the MPS:
NPCC - Guidance for Interaction with Candidates and Conduct during Pre-election Period.pdf
May 2022 elections: guidance on conduct for civil servants (HTML)