Policing protest held in central London in March 2021

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.038296

I note you seek access to the following information:

On 20 March 2021 a protest was held in central London, in particular Piccadilly. The police were deployed at this gathering. I require the following information.

1. The case-specific proportionality assessment required for policing this event.
2. The risk assessment required for policing this event.
3. The instructions subsequently issued to the superintendents responsible for issuing the policing policy to constables for this event.

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 31(1)(a)(b) – Law Enforcement

Reason for decision

You have requested information in relation to a protest that was held in Piccadilly London on the 20 March 2021 which involves the risk assessments and instructions provided to officers. Some information on the attached has been redacted and is not suitable for disclosure.

Section 31(1)(a)(b) – Law Enforcement - of the Act provides that any information is exempt if its disclosure under the Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime.

To release the attached document in an unredacted format would reveal tactical abilities of officers and the MPS, therefore full disclosure would allow anyone with intent to know all the intentions of these officers and could avoid arrest or contact with the police during the protest.

Having considered your request, I accept that there is a public interest in transparency when any request is made for police information. The public interest favouring release must be balanced against any associated risk and/or prejudice that would be caused by disclosure. Having carefully considered this, I have found that the public release of the document in full, would provide persons with intent the ability to disrupt the work of officers and could reveal tactics which would prohibit officers in keeping London safe. Given this I have found that the release of this document in full is not in the public interest.

Disclosure

Some information on the attached has been redacted and is not suitable for disclosure. Please find below the redacted officer briefing in relation to your request.