MEPO 38/79

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.036667

I note you seek access to the following information:

I wish to therefore request an FOIA application on 38/79.

The file is current showing on the National Archives as retained by department S3.4.

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 23 - Information supplied by, or concerning, certain security bodies.
Section 40 - Personal Information

Reason for decision

Section 23 - Information supplied by, or concerning, certain security bodies - Section 23(1) has been applied as some of the withheld information would reveal the extent of any involvement of the security bodies by the disclosure of these records.
Section 40(2) and (3) - Personal Information - Public Authorities are able to withhold information where its release would identify any living individual and breach the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). I have applied this exemption in that named individuals, i.e. Special Branch police officers and staff members which are contained within documentation would constitute personal data which, if released, would be in breach of the rights provided by the DPA.

The six principles of the DPA govern the way in which data controllers must manage personal data. Under principle one of the DPA, personal data must be processed fairly and lawfully. I consider that the release of these officer and staff names that are recorded within the requested documentation constitutes personal data. The release of this information would be unfair as the persons concerned would have no reasonable expectation that the MPS would make this information publicly available.

Disclosure

Please find below disclosed documentation relating to MEPO file 38/39, which total 5 pdfs.