Information about the Fixated Threat Assessment
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.038598
I note you seek access to the following information:
- 1. Address of fixated threat assessment centre London
- Composition of staff at FTAC
- Number of subjects of FTAC
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
Section 38(1)(b) - Health and Safety
Reason for decision
To provide details on the composition of staff within the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC) would highlight resourcing of the unit and the roles that these individuals perform. This would be of valuable intelligence to allow an understanding of FTAC capability in managing enquiries relating to fixated individuals.
Disclosure of this information along with the address of the unit would provide persons intent on disrupting the work of the MPS, with information that would assist them in this endeavour. This would undermine the unit’s ability to assess the risks posed to prominent people, which would hinder our law enforcement role and could result in harm being caused to those who FTAC seek to protect.
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.
This is because, under the Act, any information disclosed is released into the wider public domain, effectively to the world, not just to an individual. Whilst not questioning the motives of the applicant by providing the address and therefore where FTAC is based in London, would provide persons intent on disrupting the work of the MPS with information that would assist them to do so. In this regard, a person with this intent would be likely to use this information to make inappropriate contact with the personnel employed within the unit and/or send them vast amounts of unsolicited correspondence. This would not only disrupt the work of these individuals, but also cause disruption to the work of the MPS, in hindering the ability to prevent crime or apprehend offenders.
Similarly to disclose the composition of staff within this unit would highlight its capability to manage queries/referrals relating to fixated individuals. It has been publicised that purpose of FTAC is to assess the risks to prominent people to ensure that the appropriate level of care is received for a fixated individual, if necessary, which results in a low concern.
Any release of information which has the potential to disrupt the role of a unit, which then results in the safety of a high profile individuals being endangered along with the inability to ensure that adequate welfare is provided to a fixated individual, cannot be in the public interest. Were this to occur, the MPS would likely need to increase the staffing levels within the unit, which would add to the cost of the public purse.
Section 31 - Law Enforcement - It is not in the public interest to disclose information that may compromise the Police Services’ ability to accomplish its core function of law enforcement and thus hinder the prevention and detection of crime.
Disclosure of the address for the FTAC could result in disruption to the work performed by individuals based here if inappropriate contact was made or vast amounts of unsolicited correspondence was received. This would therefore likely compromise the effective delivery of their law enforcement functions.
To provide details on how the FTAC is resourced would allow fixated individuals or those whose intent it is to cause harm with the vital knowledge on the capability of the unit and therefore an understanding on their capacity to manage referrals. This information along with knowledge of the work location could be used to divert staff’s attention to other areas to allow them to successfully target persons of interest. Any disclosure which has the potential to hinder the partnership approach to law enforcement cannot be in the public interest.
Section 38 - Health and Safety - A disclosure of the requested information would have the effect of likely increasing the threat to those individuals who may be subject of a fixated individual. The risks to individuals are significant as evidenced, and there would be a loss of confidence in the police service to protect the well-being of the community. The MPS will not disclose information which could place the safety of individuals at risk.
The most persuasive reason for disclosing information is that there is a public interest in transparency. FTAC is a unit jointly staffed by MPS and NHS personnel and plays a unique role in having a policing and health purpose. Therefore, it is recognised that there is a genuine public interest in how the MPS works in partnership with the NHS to protect prominent individuals.
However, this needs to be weighed against the strongest negative reasons, which, in this case is by releasing information would disrupt the work of the unit and compromise the MPS’s law enforcement capabilities, in its ability to prevent crime.
There is a duty to ensure every individual’s safety and by disclosing the requested information has the potential to put this at risk. Any disclosure which could lead to an adverse consequence, such as having to increase resources in a unit or change work location, would result in additional costs to the public purse, which cannot be in the public interest.
Disclosure
Q2 - Composition of staff at FTAC
Although the composition of staff in FTAC cannot be provided I am able to advise that this consists of both MPS and NHS personnel.
Q3 - Number of subjects of FTAC
This has been interpreted as the number of people referred to FTAC. On this basis, since its inception in 2007, 12,785 people have been referred to FTAC as persons suspected of a fixation.