Agent provocateurs at the G20 demonstration

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Dear Mr McCarthy

I write in connection with your request for information dated 16/4/09,
which was received by the Information Access Office on 17/4/09. I note
that you seek access to the following information:

1. The identity of the "anarchists" who were arrested after they
broke the window of the Royal Bank of Scotland branch which was so
remarkably not boarded up despite being so close to the Bank of
England and an obvious target of public indignation, and climbed
inside; where (even more remarkably) a police cameraman just
happened to be on hand inside the bank to record this event; even
though (more remarkably still, if that were possible) the crowd of
people immediately outside the bank consisted largely of media
persons with cameras at the ready, yet as the video of the event
records (oh, very apotheosis of remarkableness!) NOT A SINGLE
policeman attempted to prevent this highly convenient outrage,
although at the time the whole area around the Bank of England was
absolutely heaving with police.

2. What penalties were imposed when these miscreants appeared in
court, and whether any fines and/or damages were paid for out of
public funds.

3. Whether the City of London police is prepared to give an
unqualified assurance that at no time has it ever made use of agent
provocateurs, or been aware of such tactics being used by members
of other police forces deployed into the City for any purpose

Your request will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000. 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 we 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.

We normally provide information free of charge but there may be occasions
when it would be appropriate to charge a fee where our costs are
excessive. In such cases we will advice you prior to processing your
request.

In some cases it may be necessary to transfer your request either in full
or in part to another public authority in order to answer you request as
comprehensively as possible. Again, you will be informed if this is the
case.

Should you have any further questions regarding your request, please
contact me via email, letter or telephone, quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

Catherine

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References

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Dear Mr McCarthy

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REF:  COL/09/187

I write in connection with your request for information dated 16 April
2009 in which you seek access to the following information:

1. I'd like to know the identity of the "anarchists" who were arrested
after they broke the window of the Royal Bank of Scotland branch which
was so remarkably not boarded up despite being so close to the Bank of
England and an obvious target of public indignation, and climbed
inside; where (even more remarkably) a police cameraman just happened
to be on hand inside the bank to record this event; even though (more
remarkably still, if that were possible) the crowd of people
immediately outside the bank consisted largely of media persons with
cameras at the ready, yet as the video of the event records (oh, very
apotheosis of remarkableness!) not a single policeman attempted to
prevent this highly convenient outrage, although at the time the whole
area around the Bank of England was absolutely heaving with police.

Four individuals were arrested for offences arising out of disorder at a
branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland, 62-63 Threadneedle Street and as a
result of ongoing enquiries into this matter, a further two people have
been arrested.

The names of three of the individuals are as follows:

Daniel Champion

Mindaugas Lenartavicius

Ben Shiells

I confirm that we hold the names of the remaining three individuals.

It has been decided that this information is subject to an exemption in
accordance with section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act - Personal
Information.

Information is exempt under section 40 if it constitutes personal data of
which the applicant is not the data subject and disclosure would
contravene any of the data protection principles.  Two of the individuals
are juveniles and the third individual has not been charged with any
offence in connection with the above described disorder.  Disclosure of
an individual's name in such circumstances is likely to be unfair and be
in contravention of principle one.  This is a class-based exemption and
it is not necessary to demonstrate the potential for harm to occur.  It
is also an absolute exemption and it is not subject to the public interest
test.

2. What penalties were imposed when these miscreants appeared in court,
and whether any fines and/or damages were paid for out of public
funds?

Daniel Champion has pleaded guilty to Criminal Damage and Burglary and was
sentenced to a one year Community Order, 150 hours unpaid work and costs
of £65.

Mindaugas Lenartavicius has pleaded guilty to Arson but has not yet been
sentenced.

Ben Shiells has been charged with Burglary and Criminal Damage and is to
stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in May 2010.

One juvenile pleaded guilty to Burglary and was sentenced to an eight
month Referral Order.

One juvenile received a Final Warning for Criminal Damage.

The remaining individual has not been charged or otherwise dealt with for
any criminal offence.

3. Whether the City of London police is prepared to give an unqualified
assurance that at no time has it ever made use of agent provocateurs,
or been aware of such tactics being used by members of other police
forces deployed into the City for any purpose.

The City of London Police does not hold any information relating to the
use of agent provocateurs.

However, the following information is provided outside of the provisions
of the Freedom of Information Act.  The City of London Police does not
use, or sanction the use of agent provocateurs.

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your request. 
Should you have any further questions, please contact me via e-mail,
letter or telephone, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Inspector Dave Lockyear

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References

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