Information about Drones
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.041561
I note you seek access to the following information:
- The budget of your force.
- If your force has a dedicated team for drone usage. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
- The number of drones your force possesses. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
- The brand(s) of these drones. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
- The number of cases/situations these drones were deployed in from 2022 to 2023. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
- The types of cases/situations these drones were deployed for. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
- If drones have been deployed in tandem with each other. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
- If the usage of a drone swarm is being researched or otherwise investigated for use. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
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
Q4 - The brand(s) of these drones. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
Section 31 (Law Enforcement) - To provide the ‘brand(s) of these drones’, would impact upon the operational capability of the MPS.
Section 31(1)(a)(b) - Law Enforcement - Whilst not questioning the motives of the applicant, providing information relating to the brand of drones we utilise would reveal our capability, which would be of value to criminals.
Disclosure of technology at the police’s disposal will mean that those members of the public who are committing crimes and pose a risk to the public, would be able to formulate ways to circumvent the tactics and tools used. If disclosed tactics when using drones will become less effective and will mean that the police are not able to detect and prevent crime, apprehend or prosecute offenders or to administer justice for the wider community.
There is always a duty of care to the general public and the Police Service has a clear responsibility to ensure the prevention or detection of crime, and the apprehension or prosecution of offenders is always delivered. There are a number of tactics available to the Police Service to ensure the effective delivery of operational law enforcement.
Disclosure that reveals our capabilities would compromise law enforcement tactics. Criminals could use the information to target areas of weakness knowing that their activities are less likely to be detected. It may be used by criminals who are intent on pursuing their criminal activity, to identify and exploit the limitations of these resources.
This is an area of increasing technological changes and as such the use of drone data to assist with investigations or operations is a valuable tool. To release information relating to the drones utilised would have an adverse effect on our policing capabilities. Therefore, to mitigate any risks, disclosure of this information needs to be protected, to ensure that those with intent to do so cannot manipulate it or undermine its purpose in any way.
Any disclosure of information which would compromise law enforcement tactics and thus lead to more crime being committed by reducing the opportunity for the prevention and detection of crime, would therefore increase the risk to public safety, which is not in the public interest.
Law enforcement is of paramount importance and the Police service will not disclose information if to do so, it would undermine its purpose. Whilst there is a public interest in the transparency of using public money in policing appropriately and effectively engaging with the threat posed by criminals, there is a very strong public interest in safeguarding the integrity of police investigations and operations. As much as there is public interest in knowing that policing activity is appropriate and balanced in matters of law enforcement, this will only be overridden in exceptional circumstances. Information on the types of drones used, or any other aspect of policing within the digital environment, is a police tactic that is open to police forces for the purpose of law enforcement and can assist in the prevention and detection of crime. Any disclosure which hinders our capability and assists criminals cannot be in the public interest. It is for these reasons that I have determined that the balance test favours non-disclosure of the requested .
Disclosure
Q1 - The budget of your force.
For the period of April 2024 to March 2025, the budget for the MPS is £3,473,123,000.
Q2 - If your force has a dedicated team for drone usage. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
Yes, the MPS has a drone team.
Q3 - The number of drones your force possesses. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
The MPS has in excess of 80 drones.
Q5 - The number of cases/situations these drones were deployed in from 2022 to 2023. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
The total number of tasks competed were 221. It should be noted that some of them may have required more than one flight, but this cannot be broken down into that kind of detail.
Q6 - The types of cases/situations these drones were deployed for. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
Intended uses include: Any authorised Firearms Operation, Aerial Imaging, Area searching, Mapping, Public Order events, pre-planned policing operations.
Q7 - If drones have been deployed in tandem with each other. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
If the question is having more than one drone been flown during a task – yes.
Q8 - If the usage of a drone swarm is being researched or otherwise investigated for use. Drones, as defined by the Civil Aviation Authority, relate to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the purpose of the above requests.
No