Direct Communications Unit

2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

Switchboard 020 7035 4848 Fax: 020 7035 4745 Textphone: 020 7035 4742

E-mail: [Home Office request email] Website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

[email address]

Mr James Earley

Reference: T11658/8

Dear Mr. Earley,

Thank you for your e-mail of 11/06/2008 about a recent Metropolitan Police campaign.

Your enquiry contained a number of questions and I regret to inform you that the Home Office does not hold any of the information that you have requested.

Your questions are given below in blue.

How many instances of suspicious photographic activity have been reported to the police?

The Home Office do not centrally collect statistics on reports made to the police.

How many times have police attended to such reports?

The Home Office do not centrally collect statistics on police attendance or call outs.

How many photographers have been arrested as a result of such reports?

The Home Office do not centrally collect statistics on police arrests. Arrests data are held by the Ministry of Justice. I've been informed that these statistics are based on aggregated data reported by the 43 police forces in England and Wales, and from these data the details of individual arrests cannot be determined.

How many photographers have been prosecuted as a result of such reports?

The Home Office do not centrally collect statistics on prosecutions. Prosecutions data are held by the Crown Prosecution Service, but I am unaware if their centrally held data contains the details requested.

Overall, these requests would be matters for individual police forces.

If you are dissatisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review of our handling of your request by submitting your complaint within two months to the below address quoting reference 9767:

Information Rights Team

Information and Record Management Service
Home Office
4th Floor, Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Email: [email address]

During the independent review the department's handling of your information request will be reassessed by staff who were not involved in providing you with this response. Should you remain dissatisfied after this internal review, you will have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act.

Thank you for writing with your query and for your interest in police statistics.

Yours sincerely,

Simon Bullock

Specialist Crime and Police Resources Unit

Home Office Statistics