Overview of the MPS car fleet for the last 5 calendar years

 

I note you seek access to the following information:

 

1. How many unmarked, SUV, electric/hybrid cars? 

2. What is the rationale for using unmarked cars instead of marked cars?

3. What is the rationale for using SUVs instead of normal cars? 

4. How are bicycles in policing? Are numbers increasing and are they replacing cars.

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full. 

 

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

 

Q1 - How many unmarked, SUV, electric/hybrid cars? 

	Total
Unmarked cars	2745
SUV cars	375
Electric Cars	51
Hybrid Cars	893

 

 

The MPS has a varied number of policing responsibilities for both reactive and proactive policing. These cover emergency response duties, forensics, and intelligence all the way through to counter terrorism and surveillance duties. Each area of policing has specific and unique requirements in terms of equipment and vehicles. Where there is need for vehicles to be identified for public confidence and safety they are marked, and where there is a need for vehicles to be more discreet or covert in their activities, they are unmarked.

 

 

The rationale for any base vehicle selection is based on a robust commercial process which ensures it meets specific operational requirements and would be determined by multiple technical and commercial factors, e.g. available payload, ground clearance, internal space (for occupants and equipment), occupants vantage point/visibility etc. As well as warranty, environmental, value for money and vehicle delivery lead times.

 

 

Unfortunately, at present, this data is not held in a central database and we are therefore unable to provide an accurate figure.  However, based on previous data held we can advise an estimation of approximately 1200 bicycles.  As we do not have an accurate figure at present, we are unable to advise whether this number has increased or decreased.  

 

With reference to Q.4, the ICO Guidance states the following:

 

“FOIA only applies to information that a public authority already holds in recorded form at the time of a request.

 

If you don’t hold a particular piece of information that someone has asked for, you don’t have to create it. Nor are you required to ask a third party for the information, unless they hold it on your behalf”.
Determining whether we hold information | ICO