Cost of duty helmets

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.033767

I note you seek access to the following information:

1) What is the total cost of a Met Police beat duty helmet per unit?
2) What is the cost to the MPS for issue and replacement of beat duty helmets on a yearly basis for at least the last three years?

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

Part of your requests asks for the total cost of a Met Police beat helmet per unit, this information is considered commercially sensitive and is exempt under the following exemption:

Section 43(2) – Commercial Interests - Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).

As outlined in the reasons for decision section, in order for the above exemption to be engaged the MPS must show that disclosure under the Act would, or would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).

In this case, this exemption has been applied as disclosure of the requested information would prejudice the commercial interest of the MPS.

In this case disclosing any specific costs in relation to an MPS beat helmet per unit could result in the MPS attracting less favourable deals from companies in the future if they believed such details would be made public. Furthermore disclosure may impact on the commercial interests of the supplier, as if the costs are favourable the supplier may be expected to provide the program at similar costs to other companies, and if unfavourable other companies could by-pass our current supplier.

Disclosure of the requested information would prejudice the commercial interests of the MPS because the disclosure of costs, would set a 'benchmark' which potential service providers could use to compare their proposed responses to. This would therefore have a negative impact on the competitive nature of the tendering process.

There is a public interest in ensuring that companies are able to compete fairly. Disclosing the information could also provide competitors with an unfair advantage. Full disclosure would weaken the position of the MPS in a competitive environment by revealing market-sensitive information. This would have a harmful effect on future partnerships when entering into commercial activities.

I consider that the benefit that would result from the information being disclosed does not outweigh the considerations favouring non-disclosure.

Disclosure

Q2 - What is the cost to the MPS for issue and replacement of beat duty helmets on a yearly basis for at least the last three years?

2021 - £124,660
2022 - £140,714
2023 - £91,266 (for 2023 up to October) – November and December data is not currently available.