Rollout of smartphones to its officers

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.030016

I note you seek access to the following information:

The Met Police has recently undertaken a rollout of smartphones to its officers. Can you pls tell me

1) Are these smartphones new phones?
2) What brand and model of phones have been rolled out?
3) To date, how many Met Police officers have been issued with the new smartphones?
4) How many will be issued in total?
5) What is the cost of issuing these smartphones to officers?
6) What is the purpose of issuing the new phones?

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 43(2) – Commercial Interests

Reason for decision

Before I explain the reasons for the decisions I have made in relation to your request, I thought that it would be helpful if I outline the parameters set out by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) within which a request for information can be answered.

The Act creates a statutory right of access to information held by public authorities. A public authority in receipt of a request must, if permitted, confirm if the requested information is held by that public authority and, if so, then communicate that information to the applicant.

The right of access to information is not without exception and is subject to a number of exemptions which are designed to enable public authorities to withhold information that is not suitable for release. Importantly, the Act is designed to place information into the public domain, that is, once access to information is granted to one person under the Act, it is then considered public information and must be communicated to any individual should a request be received.

Section 43(2) – Commercial Interests - provides that any information is exempt if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person.

The MPS has claimed Section 43(2) of the Act for disclosure of the total cost of the contracts as it is commercially sensitive. Disclosure of the cost of providing these smart phones to the 29,500 officers could be used by competitors to price future product and procurements which would harm the MPS as the public sector does have finite resources.

Disclosure of the requested information could be used by competitors to price future product and procurements which would harm the MPS as the public sector does have finite resources.

Public disclosure would harm the Met’s ability to achieve best value in future procurement processes in this area. The MPS would not want to public disclose information regarding its expenditure that would detrimentally impact on any future procurement process. The release of any information that would negatively influence, or impact upon, a future procurement process is not in the public interest.

In deciding whether to claim the commercial interest’s exemption (Section 43) of the Act, I have considered whether the public interest lies in favour of releasing the information requested or whether there is sufficient reason to support withholding it.

Having considered the requested information for release, I acknowledge that a public interest would be satisfied in demonstrating how public money is spent. This public interest must be balanced against any identified risk.

In this case, disclosure would harm future procurement processes. Disclosure would negatively impact upon the Met’s ability to achieve best value in future procurement processes in this area.

Having considered the competing public interest factors, I have found that the public release of information that would negatively influence or impact upon a procurement process is not in the public interest. I have accordingly refused this part of your request for information.

Disclosure

Q1 - Are these smartphones new phones?

Yes

Q2 - What brand and model of phones have been rolled out?

Samsung A32

Q3 - To date, how many Met Police officers have been issued with the new smartphones?

28,000

Q4 - How many will be issued in total?

29,500

Q5 - What is the cost of issuing these smartphones to officers?

S43 Commercially sensitive (see above)

Q6 - What is the purpose of issuing the new phones?

This investment was required to replace the end of life technology and comply with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) approved design to utilise Microsoft In-tune capability.

Please also refer to the business case published on MOPAC website