Radios and public address equipment provided to officers
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.034492
I note you seek access to the following information:
What radios do you supply officers? (all radios used by met police personnel) - please include the make and model of each. This also includes radios fitted to vehicles.
Are you planning on replacing these radios in the future or are you retaining the use of currently used radios?
I would also like to know if your vehicles have public address equipment fitted or if the met possess any form of public address equipment?
- if so please detail whether they are fixed, portable or fitted to vehicles.
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 the make and model of radios used by the MPS officers.
Although the MPS are happy to disclose the make of these radios, to disclose the model could show any vulnerabilities that the MPS may have and would be likely to provide enough information for individuals (or groups of individuals) with criminal or malicious intent to disrupt our ability to deploy resources safely and efficiently which would hinder our ability to fulfil our basic law enforcement functions.
Section 31(1)(a)(b) of the Act, which governs Law Enforcement, is therefore engaged in respect of your request.
To release information in relation to the models of radios used by the MPS could show any potential vulnerabilities that the MPS may have in carrying out their day to day activities and therefore reveal tactical capability. If this information was obtained by individuals with criminal intent they could use it to disrupt local policing.
To disclose information on specific radio models would reveal tactical capability and would place the MPS at a tactical disadvantage as outlined in the harm above. It cannot be in the public interest to disclose information which would undermine our ability to detect crime and bring offenders to justice. As detailed within the 'harm', this would be a valuable asset to individuals and/or organisations wishing to commit crimes. The infiltration of police communication/intelligence systems would disrupt the deployment of units and officers to any crime which, in turn, would enable offenders to destroy evidence and evade apprehension.
This decision is based on the understanding that the public interest is not what interests the public, but what would be of greater good to the community as a whole.
Disclosure
What radios do you supply officers? This also includes radios fitted to vehicles.
The vast majority of officer’s radios are Sepura sc20 or sc21. For radios fitted in vehicles, these are Sepura or Motorola.
Are you planning on replacing these radios in the future or are you retaining the use of currently used radios?
The MPS continually reviews the need to replace radios and will make a decision on what to purchase based on make and model and technical availability at the time we go to market.
I would also like to know if your vehicles have public address equipment fitted or if the met possess any form of public address equipment?
Only on very specialist vehicles.
If so please detail whether they are fixed, portable or fitted to vehicles
They are fixed.