Complaints against specialist units & BCUs from 2019/20 to 2022/23

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.029416

I note you seek access to the following information:

I am writing to request information regarding the rates of complaints per officer against specialist units such as the TSG and VCTF, as compared to BCUs, for the last four years.

If possible, please break down the data by complaints involving allegations of racism, use of force, and misogyny or sexism.

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 40(2)(a)(b)&(3)(a)(i) – Personal Information

Reason for decision

The Section 40(2) Exemption has been utilised due to low numbers which have been removed, that is, numbers 5 and below have been replaced with [xx]. The MPS believes that release of these low numbers could lead to the identification of individuals. This constitutes personal data which would be in breach of the rights provided by the DPA (Data protection Act) 2018 and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), if released.

It is important to note that a Freedom of Information Act request is not a private transaction. Both the request itself and any information disclosed are considered suitable for open publication, 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. Any information released under the Act is also published on the MPS website.

Section 40(2)(a)(b) and (3)(a)(i) - Personal Information - In order to apply the Section 40(2) exemption the disclosure of the requested information must satisfy either the first, second or third conditions as defined by subsections 3(a), 3(b) and 4(c) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

The first condition ensures that the exemption would apply in circumstances where the disclosure of the information would breach any of the Data Protection Act 2018 principles.

There are six Data Protection principles set out in the 2018 act and these can be found at section 34.

In this instance I have decided that the disclosure of low numbers (5 and under) could lead to the identification of individuals which is incompatible with the first Data Protection principle which states that the processing (in this case the disclosure) of the data must be both lawful and fair.

Disclosure

Please find below an Excel Spreadsheet with the data requested, with the exception of the low numbers referenced above.