Vehicle resources as of December 2021 and January 2023

 

I note you seek access to the following information:

 

Could you tell me the following information

 

1) The number of horsebox vehicles in use by Met Police Mounted Unit as of 31 December 2021 and 10 January 2023 in tabular form

 

2) The number of unmarked and marked Police vans used by Metropolitan Police Dog Unit as of 31 December 2021 and 10 January 2023 in tabular form

 

3) The number of unmarked and marked police cars used by Metropolitan Police Dog Unit as of 31 December 2021 and 10 January 2023 in tabular form

 

4) The number of boats in use by Metropolitan Police Water Unit as of 31 December 2021 and 10 January 2023 in tabular form

 

5) The number of marked and unmarked Public Order Unit vans in use by Metropolitan Police as of 31 December 2021 and 10 January 2023 in tabular form

 

6) The number of marked and unmarked vans used by Metropolitan Police Traffic Unit as of 31 December 2021 and 10 January 2023 in tabular form

 

7) The number of marked and unmarked cars used by Metropolitan Police Traffic Unit as of 31 December 2021 and 10 January 2023 in tabular form

 

8) The number of marked and unmarked motorcycles used by Metropolitan Police Traffic Unit as of 31 December 2021 and 10 January 2023 in tabular form

Unmarked cars - As stated within the response to your previous FOIA request 01/FOI/22/026147, for the information requested in relation to unmarked police vehicles, the Metropolitan Police Service can neither confirm nor deny whether it holds the information that you requested as the duty in Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) 

 

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(3) - Law Enforcement 

 

 

Section 31 Law enforcement - In considering whether or not the MPS confirm or deny they hold the information requested, I have considered the potential harm that could be caused by such a disclosure. 

 

Information disclosed under the Act is considered to be a release to the world as once the information is published the public authority, in this case the MPS, has no control over what use is made of that information. Whilst not questioning the motives of the applicant it could be of use to those who seek to disrupt any police investigation or law enforcement practices as it would enable them to identify specific police vehicles. 

 

This would lead to an increase of harm to either the investigation itself or the subject of the investigation.

 

By confirming or denying that any information exists, law enforcement would be compromised which would hinder the prevention and detection of crime. More crime would be committed and individuals would be placed at risk. This would result in further risks to the public and consequently require the use of more MPS resources. 

 

Disclosure of information, if it exists would provide valuable intelligence which would be useful to criminals in identifying methods of legitimate law enforcement techniques which may or may not be used by the MPS. 

 

Disclosure of information, if held would technically be releasing sensitive operational information into the public domain which would enable those with the time, capacity and inclination to try and map strategies used by the MPS. Additionally, MPS resources and its ability to operate effectively and efficiently would directly be affected as information, if it exists can be manipulated by those with criminal intent to operate in those areas.

 

If it exists, the disclosure of this information to the public by the MPS would compromise the MPS's ability to complete any ongoing or future criminal investigations or law enforcement practices. 

 

The release of such information if it exists would prejudice operational policing. This could be to the detriment of providing an efficient policing service and a failure in providing a duty of care to all members of the public. 

 

Therefore, I consider that considerations favouring non-disclosure of the requested information, if it exists, far outweighs the considerations favouring disclosure. 

 

Please note this response should not be taken to as an indication of whether or not the requested information is held

 

 

Please see the below information pursuant to your FOIA request for marked vehicles.

Category	Marked 31/12/2021	Marked 10/01/2023
Horsebox vehicles in use by Met Police Mounted Unit	6	6
Unmarked and marked Police vans used by Metropolitan Police Dog Unit	27	25
Unmarked and marked police cars used by Metropolitan Police Dog Unit	40	39
Boats in use by Metropolitan Police Water Unit	24	27
Marked and unmarked Public Order Unit vans in use by Metropolitan Police	166	170
Marked and unmarked vans used by Metropolitan Police Traffic Unit	72	65
Marked and unmarked cars used by Metropolitan Police Traffic Unit	122	115
Marked and unmarked motorcycles used by Metropolitan Police Traffic Unit	159	157