Ali Dizaei case investigation costs

Dear Mr. Monk

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2011060002910
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 19/06/2011. I note you seek
access to the following information:

"I as many other members of the public have been watching the career of
Commander Ali Dizaei formally of the Metropolitan Police. I have witnessed
his being cleared of allegations (which at the time seemed remarkably
trivial) back in 2003. Ali Dizaei was cleared of all these charges which I
understand was at a cost of around **7 million.

Following aquittal of these trivial charges in 2003 it was widely
suggested that this was a vendetta following the much needed work Mr
Dizaei performed concerning race relations and inequality within the
police service.

In September 2008 Commander Dizaei was suspended from duty following
allegations of perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public
office. In relation to the investigation from this point can you provide
me the following?

1. The total cost (**) of the Ali Dizaei investigation from Sept 2008
through to trial. (Concerning the Metropolitan Police Professional
Standards dept)
2.The total manhours expended in the course of the Ali Dizaei
investigation from Sept 2008 through to trial. (Concerning the
Metropolitan Police Professional Standards dept)
3. Copies of any communications/enquiries made by the MPS relating to the
cost of the Ali Dizaei investigation with interested parties. "

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.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

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

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact me at the above e-mail address, quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

R. Loizou
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, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
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

The Metropolitan Police Service is here for London - on the streets and in
your community, working with you to make our city safer.

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system. To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law. Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents. The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

Dear Mr. Monk,

Thank you for your e-mail.

Your request is still in progress. I will ask the case worker to update
you sometime today.

Alternatively, you may contact Mr. D. Baird at [email address]

Apologies for the delay and for the inconvenience caused.

With kind regards,

R. Loizou

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Monk,

I am sorry for the delay in responding to your request. I should be in a
position to respond to you within 5 working days. Thank you for your
patience in awaiting my response.

Yours sincerely

Damion

The Metropolitan Police Service is here for London - on the streets and in
your community, working with you to make our city safer.

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system. To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law. Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents. The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

Dear Mr Monk,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2011060002910 / 2011070000365
I write in response to your request for information that was received by
the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 19 June 2011. I apologise for the
delay in responding to your requests. I note that you seek access to the
following information:

1. The total cost (**) of the Ali Dizaei investigation from Sept 2008
through to trial. (Concerning the Metropolitan Police Professional
Standards dept)

2. The total cost (**) of the Ali Dizaei investigation from Sept 2008
through to trial. (Concerning the Independent Police Complaints
Commission)

3. The total manhours expended in the course of the Ali Dizaei
investigation from Sept 2008 through to trial. (Concerning the
Metropolitan Police Professional Standards dept)

4. The total manhours expended in the course of the Ali Dizaei
investigation from Sept 2008 through to trial. (Concerning the Independent
Police Complaints Commission)

5. The cost (**) and Manhours expended in the course of this investigation
by the Metropolitan Police Authority

6. Any communications/enquiries made by the MPA relating to the cost of
the Ali Dizaei investigation with interested parties.

DECISION
The investigation into Ali Dizaei was an independent Independent Police
Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation. The MPS did not deploy any
officers in connection with this investigation or incur any direct
financial cost from September 2008 through to the trial of Ali Dizaei in
January/February 2010. The MPS is currently however, preparing a number of
records for the impending retrial of Ali Dizaei. This work involves a
small team of officers. The MPS has, as a result, incurred staff costs and
other general costs in connection with the retrial of Ali Dizaei.

In response to your sixth question, I have conducted searches to locate
any record of communication between the MPS and the MPA in relation to the
cost of this investigation into Ali Dizaei. These searches failed to
locate any information.

I also understand that the IPCC have already responded to your request on
08 July 2011 and disclosed their costs to you.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

This notice concludes your request for information. I would like to thank
you for your interest in the MPS.

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

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Damion Baird on telephone number 0207 161 6510 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Damion Baird
Information Manager
Directorate of Professional Standards
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, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
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

The Metropolitan Police Service is here for London - on the streets and in
your community, working with you to make our city safer.

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system. To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law. Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents. The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

Dear  Mr Monk

Freedom of Information Internal Review Reference No: 2011100000724

I write in connection with your letter dated 02/10/2011 (received
03/10/2011) requesting that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) review
its response dated 25/08/2011 to your request for information relating to:

* FOIA request reference no. 2011060002910.

The review will be conducted in accordance with the MPS complaints
procedure. The MPS endeavour to respond to your complaint by 31/10/2011.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
contact Brian Wilson on telephone number 0207 161 3705 or at the address
at the top of the letter quoting the reference number above.

Thank you for your interest in the MPS.

Yours sincerely

Brian Wilson
FOIA Complaints 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, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
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

 

The Metropolitan Police Service is here for London - on the streets and in
your community, working with you to make our city safer.

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

Dear Mr Monk

Freedom of Information Internal Review Reference No: 2011100000724

I write in connection with your correspondence dated 02/10/2011 requesting
that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) review its response dated
25/08/2011 to your request for information relating to Freedom of
Information Request reference number 2011060002910 / 2011070000365.  The
request was as follows:  

1. The total cost (£) of the Ali Dizaei investigation from Sept 2008
through to trial. (Concerning the Metropolitan Police Professional
Standards dept)

2. The total cost (£) of the Ali Dizaei investigation from Sept 2008
through to trial. (Concerning the Independent Police Complaints
Commission)

3. The total manhours expended in the course of the Ali Dizaei
investigation from Sept 2008 through to trial. (Concerning the
Metropolitan Police Professional Standards dept)

4. The total manhours expended in the course of the Ali Dizaei
investigation from Sept 2008 through to trial. (Concerning the Independent
Police Complaints Commission)

5. The cost (£) and Manhours expended in the course of this investigation
by the Metropolitan Police Authority

6. Any communications/enquiries made by the MPA relating to the cost of
the Ali Dizaei investigation with interested parties.

DECISION

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has completed its review and has
decided that correct procedure was followed in determining the original
decision.

REASON FOR DECISION        

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 creates a statutory right of access to
information held by public authorities. A public authority in receipt of a
request must confirm whether they hold the requested information and if
so, communicate it to the applicant. Furthermore, the Freedom of
Information Act is designed to place information into the public domain.
Therefore, once access to information is granted to one person under the
Act, it is then considered to be public information and must be
communicated to any individual upon request.

The right of access to information is subject to a number of exemptions
that are designed to enable public authorities to withhold information
that is not suitable for release.

The MPS response to your request dated 25/08/2011 advised that the
investigation into Ali Dizaei was an Independent Police Complaints
Commission (IPCC) investigation.  Therefore, the MPS did not incur any
direct financial costs from September 2008 through to the trial of Ali
Dizaei in January/February 2010.

Your complaint dated 05/10/2011 related to the extent of the searches
conducted in relation to question 6.  Specifically, you asked whether the
office of Catherine Crawford, the MPA Legal department and the
Metropolitan Police's Commissioner's office have been included in this
search.

Searches were conducted within files and e-mails held within the
Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner’s Private Office.  The Deputy
Commissioner’s e-mails were also searched.  

Searches were also conducted on the MetRIC (Met Requests for Information
and Correspondence) system.  MetRIC is the system used by the MPS to
record general correspondence and requests for information under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Data Protection Act 1998.

In response to your complaint, I have also conducted further searches of
MetRIC and have been unable to locate information relating to your
request.

Neither the office of Catherine Crawford or the MPA’s legal department
were included in the search for information relating to your request.
 Under the Act, the MPS are not required to conduct searches with external
organisations to locate and retrieve information.  Such a search would
typically only be conducted if the information requested was held by the
external organisation on behalf of the MPS or if the MPS were seeking to
transfer a request to another public authority.  In this instance, you
were advised by the MPA on 01/07/2011 that they do not hold any
information in relation to your request.  As a consequence, the MPA
transferred the request to the MPS.

I would also like to take this opportunity to apologise for any
inconvenience that may have been caused by the delay in providing you with
a full response to your complaint.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights which explains how to contact the Information
Commissioner with your complaint.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me on 0207 161 3705 or via e-mail quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

Brian Wilson
FOIA Complaints 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, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
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

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).