MPS's response to Baroness Jones' letter (Partygate)
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.024165
I note you seek access to the following information:
Please kindly provide a *redacted* copy of your response to Baroness Jones' that she sent to you this year asking whether officers witnessed the event on 20 May 2020, and if so whether they reported it.
Notes: We are aware this may be considered exempt which is why we expect most of this response communication to be redacted *with the exception* of the sentences in which you answered her question of whether officers witnessed the event on 20 May 2020 due to the enormous public interest. We are clearly NOT asking any other information except for where you answer the specific question in the communication to Baroness Jones.
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 40(2)&(3) - Personal Information
Reason for decision
The information provided is in a redacted format, that is, I have removed information that I consider to be exempt under the Act. Black highlights ( ) denote where exempt information has been removed.
The information removed includes names, references and contact details of both MPS employees and employees of other agencies. This is because these individuals would not reasonably expect their names to be published in response to a Freedom of Information request. I have not identified a legitimate interest that would be satisfied in disclosing their personal data in response to this request for information.
Email address and telephone numbers have also been removed as their inclusion would not satisfy any identifiable legitimate interest.
A Freedom of Information Act request is not a private transaction. Both the request itself, and any information disclosed are considered suitable for open publication. This is because, under Freedom of Information, any information disclosed is released into the wider public domain, effectively to the world and not just to one individual.
Disclosure
Please find attached redacted copy of the MPS’ response to Baroness Jones’ correspondence of 06 December 2022.