2023 Fleet Allocation

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.028050

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. Please provide a list of your current fleet as of January 2023,
2. Please provide a list of your callsigns and allocations of your fleet,
3. If applicable, please provide the roof codes for your fleet.

Decision

I would like to inform you that I will supply a partial disclosure of the requested information. Please find attached a list of our current fleet which includes the area that the vehicle has been allocated to and the roof codes, when applicable. However, I will not disclose a list of vehicle callsigns, as I have determined that this could be of value to individuals and/or organisations wishing to commit crimes.

Therefore, 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

Section 31(1)(a)(b) - Law Enforcement - allows public authorities to withhold information if it is likely to or would prejudice ‘The prevention or detection of crime’ & ‘The apprehension or prosecution of offenders’.

You have requested information in relation to the list of callsigns for the MPS fleet. Call signs are assigned to specific units, vehicles or officers, which will differ depending on the operation or day. They are then used to contact these specific units, vehicles or officers so that they can be directed to incidents. As such, the use of call signs will identify where those units, vehicles or officers are at a specific time but is not specific to an officer or vehicle indefinitely.

Enabling criminal or malicious intent - The MPS has previously made public call sign data, however it is worth noting that we have now radically changed our call sign structure and policy. This being the case any information still in the public domain is now obsolete and of little operational value. Our new approach better identifies the skills and capabilities of a particular unit, which could be of intelligence value to a person or persons with criminal or malicious intent. Knowledge of these skills and capabilities could therefore enable targeted malicious actions, be that some form of attack on an operational unit, or avoiding that unit. If we consider this fact set in the context of the current threat level, both now and possible near future events of a geo-political nature, the release of the call signs could be negatively used.

It is worth noting that information that is made available under the Act is published by the MPS via the publication scheme, making it readily available to the public, and not just the individual making the request. Via a public interest test I have presented two opposing arguments for and against releasing the requested data. I have found that there is a public interest in being made aware of different aspects of policing, specifically what types of vehicles are being used by MPS officers. The release of the requested data would reinforce the MPS’s commitment to transparency with the public.

However, I have also identified that to release call signs would reveal tactical capabilities. This could be negatively used, to disrupt local policing and avoid detection, this in turn could enable offenders to evade apprehension, which would clearly negatively affect the MPS’s law enforcement function. It is not in the public interest to disclose information which would undermine our ability to keep Londoners safe, by detecting crime and bring offenders to justice. This being the case, your request for vehicle callsigns has been refused using Section 31(1)(a)(b).

Disclosure

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.