FAO: Natalie Davies

What Do They Know.com

Dear Madam,

Freedom of Information - Details of empty commercial properties with

rateable values over £50,000 together with names and addresses.

Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for
the above information.

Before deciding whether to release such information, I am obliged to consider whether the releasing of the information is in the public interest. It is accepted that 'what the public are interested in' and 'what is in the public interest' are not necessarily the same thing. I must also consider any possible harmful effects disclosure of the requested information may cause.

In view of the above, I believe S.31 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 applies here (Law Enforcement). The law enforcement exemption covers crime prevention,
taxation and other regulatory matters.

Therefore, by providing names and addresses of properties which are empty, I am of
the opinion this would increase the likelihood of these properties being
targets of crime within this Authority.

I am informed by North Wales Fire Authority there is currently a definite trend

in the increase of fires started deliberately across North Wales and they attribute this to the current economic climate and empty properties are at a higher risk of being targeted by law breakers to set on fire and to steal from. This was sadly the case in June 2009, an empty factory was broken into in Halesowen and two of the persons concerned were tragically killed.

As such I must refuse your request.

If you are unhappy with the decision made to withhold information in relation to your request you may ask for an internal review. Please address your correspondence to the Customer Care Officer, Managing Director's Department, Council Offices, Llangefni, Ynys Môn LL77 7TW (E-mail: [email address]).

If you are not content with the outcome of any internal review you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5AF. Please note that the Information Commissioner is likely to expect internal review procedures to have been exhausted before beginning his investigation.

Yours faithfully

David Elis-Williams

Corporate Director (Finance)

Gwefan - www.ynysmon.gov.uk - Website - www.anglesey.gov.uk