Protests and Belgravia Square, London on March 2022

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.023821

I note you seek access to the following information:

On Monday 14 March protesters occupied 5 Belgravia Square, which they believed to be owned by sanctioned Russian Oligarch Oleg Deripaska. There was a Metropolitan Police response.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to know:
1. how much this operation cost,
2. how many officers were deployed,
3. which units the officers were from (eg. Territorial Support Group) and
4. how many from each unit.

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(1)(a)(b) - Law Enforcement

Reason for decision

With regards to Q4 – How many from each unit.

Each of the BCU’s (Borough Command Units) supplied officers to these service mobilisations. To provide a breakdown of officers from specific BCU’s demonstrates the capabilities and intelligence available to the MPS when planning for a demonstration. To provide the level of detail available to the MPS would assist those planning to commit acts of violence, for example against individuals, the police or buildings.

Section 31(1)(a)(b) - Law Enforcement - To enable the public to be better informed about the intelligence, capabilities and resources available to the MPS when formatting their strategies and tactics, would greatly impact on police resources and future planning. There are some who would seek to obtain tactical and strategic detail to improve on their plans to avoid being detected and apprehended at the event, or after. Those with criminal intensions will often do all they can to cause a breach of the peace, by trying to evade the police. To disclose the exempt information is likely to impact on police resources, should the MPS continually have to change their considered plans of action, tactics and methodology as a result of an FOIA disclosure.

It is not in the public interest to disclose the withheld information which contains law enforcement tactics and methodology. The tactics and methodology could be utilised when planning for future events, protests and demonstrations made by this and other organisations. It is also not in the public interest to disclose information that demonstrates the capabilities and intelligence available to the MPS at specific points in time.

The withheld information would assist those planning to commit acts of violence, for example against individuals, the police or buildings. Disclosure of the type of intelligence and capabilities available to the police at a specific point in time would enable individual's intent on committing criminal activity to circumvent methods deployed to keep the peace. This in turn hinders the ability of the MPS to prevent and detect crime when planning for future events, which would not be in the interest of the public.

Disclosure of the type of intelligence and capabilities available to the police when planning a demonstration would enable those intent on criminal activity to circumvent methods deployed to control the peace. This in turn hinders the ability of the MPS to prevent and detect crime when planning for future demonstrations/protests.

Whilst I appreciate there is a public interest in how the MPS plans and assesses risks and where public funds are being spent, disclosure would hinder the ability of the MPS to prevent and detect crime at future events, if those who become aware of the resources and capabilities available to the MPS. This information can be used to try and evade future detection at an event. This is particularly so if the public are aware of what type of intelligence and resources the MPS are likely to have available and use, as it also indicates what resources they are likely or unlikely to obtain.

Disclosure

Q1 - How much this operation cost.

Please find details of 2 areas of costing.
i) The immediate response to the incident at the time, these officers were on duty on the BCU and surrounding areas (Please note that some officers were already on duty for an anticipated ‘Just Stop Oil’ protest which didn’t materialise, so they were redirected to this event).

So for units assigned, from our CAD system (Computer Aided Despatch) message, we have costed this with the assumption of 2 officers per vehicle and TSG with normal crewing numbers. This is a stand-alone cost, separate from the costings for service mobilisation. All of which is opportunity cost.

Opportunity cost: £35,692.99

ii) The service mobilisation, this was for extra units stood up for this event from around the MPS.

Opportunity costs £43,214.19
Overtime £1,821.32
Fleet £383.60
Total costs £45,419.11
Grand total costs: £81,112.10

Q2 - How many officers were deployed.

Resourcing during the late turn/night duty shifts:-
*Immediate response:
1 x Inspector
5 x Police Sergeants
75 x Police Officers
*Caveat as above in the costings regarding assumptions made re resourcing.
Service Mobilisation:
2 x Superintendents
3 x Inspectors
13 x Police Sergeants
77 x Police Constables

Q3 - Which units the officers were from (eg. Territorial Support Group).

TSG, BCU’s, Dog vans and NPAS (Helicopter).