Mr Kevin Sharp

Information Services Officer

Information Governance Unit

HQ, Woburn Road

Kempston, Bedford, MK43 9AX

Tel 01234 842213

Fax 01234 842133

Email [email address]

Our Ref: KS/2009/00110 02 March 2009

Mr John Anderson

[FOI #7456 email]

Dear Mr Anderson,

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT Reference No F-2009-00110

With reference to your request for information received on 2^nd February 2009, I note you seek access to the following information:

     As of the 4th of December 2008

     1: How many DNA and fingerprint samples of innocent people have deleted?

     2: How many innocent people requested their DNA and fingerprint samples be deleted?

3: If no DNA and fingerprint samples have been deleted i wish to know the reasons WHY as the UK Government have been found to be in breach of innocent peoples human rights and this would be considered a crime in itself.

4: As there is no right of appeal from a final decision made by the Grand Chamber when will your police force be routinely be deleting records of innocent people?

The FOI Act obliges us to respond to requests promptly and in any case no later than 20 working days after receiving your request. We must consider firstly whether we can comply with section 1(1)(a) of the Act, which is our duty to confirm whether or not the information requested is held and secondly we must comply with section 1(1)(b), which is the provision of such information. However, when a qualified exemption applies either to the confirmation or denial or the information provision and a public interest test is engaged, the Act allows the time for response to be longer than 20 working days, if the balance of such public interest is undermined.

In this case we have not yet reached a decision on where the balance of the public interest lies in respect of either of the above obligations. We estimate that it could take an additional 20 working days to take a decision on where this balance lies. Therefore, we plan to let you have a response by 30^th March 2009. I can assure you that every effort will be made to ensure an appropriate response will be made within this new timescale. If it appears that it will take longer than this to reach a conclusion, you will be kept informed.

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your rights of complaint.

May I apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Should you wish to discuss this matter please write or contact me quoting the reference above.

Yours sincerely,

Kevin Sharp

Information Services Officer