Action taken following Section 44 Searches

Dear Mr Bridle

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2008090004927
I write in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 17 September 2008. I
note you seek access to the following information:

* A recent FOI request (detailed here:
http://tinyurl.com/6bdwm2)supplied the following outcomes for MPS
Section 44 Searches for the period January 2003 - February 2008: NO
FURTHER ACTION: 140,989 ADVISED: 6,834 VERBALLY WARNED: 1,730
ARRESTED: 2,108 OTHER: 39,817 Total: 191,478
* Please can you clarify the meaning of 'other', and provide as much
detail as possible on the offences for which verbal warnings were
given, and arrests made. At the very least, please can you say how
many of the arrests were for terrorism-related offences, what these
offences were, and how many resulted in prosecutions.

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act). You will receive a response within
the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act,
subject to the information not being exempt or containing a reference
to a third party. In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to
achieve this deadline. If this is likely you will be informed and
given a revised time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

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

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest
in the MPS.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
write or contact K.Simmons via the e-mail address at the top of this
letter, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

K.Simmons
Policy and Support Officer
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think
the decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your
request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again –

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is
to telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your
decision letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues
and assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision
of the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act)
regarding access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS
to have the decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within three months.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied
with the decision you may make application to the Information
Commissioner for a decision on whether the request for information has
been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information
Commissioner please visit their website at
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk. Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

show quoted sections

Dear Mr James Bridle

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2008090004927

I write in connection with your request for information dated 17/09/2008,
which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 17/09/2008.
I note you seek access to the following information:

A recent FOI request (detailed here: http://tinyurl.com/6bdwm2 )supplied
the following outcomes for MPS Section 44 Searches for the period January
2003 - February 2008:

NO FURTHER ACTION: 140,989 ADVISED: 6,834 VERBALLY WARNED: 1,730

ARRESTED: 2,108 OTHER: 39,817 Total: 191,478

Please can you clarify the meaning of 'other', and provide as much detail
as possible on the offences for which verbal warnings were given, and
arrests made. At the very least, please can you say how many of the
arrests were for terrorism-related offences, what these offences were, and
how many resulted in prosecutions.

Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within the MPS
to locate information relevant to your request.

EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
at Stop and Search Team.

RESULT OF SEARCHES

The searches located one record relevant to your request.

DECISION

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you.

Question: Please can you clarify the meaning of 'other'

Answer: We are unable to clarify what others are as there is no
information on the stops form to clarify this, also we cannot tell him how
many resulted in prosecutions. Some of the information needed for the
reply is on the attachment below.

Please find attached record below.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

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

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
the MPS.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Claire Reidy, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

DC Claire Reidy
TPHQ Stop & Search Team
Stop & Search Team
15th Floor
Empress State Building
Empress Approach
Lillie Road
SW6 1TR
www.met.police.uk/stopandsearch

In complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information, the
Metropolitan Police Service will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the
enclosed information will continue to be protected by law. Applications
for the copyright owner's written permission to reproduce any part of the
attached information should be addressed to MPS Directorate of Legal
Services, 1st Floor (Victoria Block), New Scotland Yard, Victoria, London,
SW1H 0BG.
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again –

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is to
telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your decision
letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues and
assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within three months.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

show quoted sections