BNP Election Campaign

Dear Mr Walker,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010020005529
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 25/02/2010. I note you seek
access to the following information:

* "On Wednesday 24th February 2010 The London Evening Standard newspaper
reported that ‘BNP thugs will try to provoke violence during the
general election campaign in London, a government minister warned
today’ and that, immigration minister Phil Woolas said there was no
doubt that “bad people” in the racist party — whose leader Nick
Griffin is standing for election in Barking and Dagenham — would
“like to cause trouble”.
* 1) Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 I would like to request
where and how Mr. Woolas obtained this information. Furthermore, Mr
Woolas said the Met police and the Crown Prosecution Service were
preparing for a surge in public order offences and taking precautions.
* 2) Can you confirm that this is the case and if so what preventative
measures you intend to take?"

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 Katie London on telephone number 02071613907 quoting
the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Katie London
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 40 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

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Dear Mr Walker

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010020005529
I write in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 25/02/2010. I note
you seek access to the following information:

* 1) Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 I would like to request
where and how Mr. Woolas obtained this information.

I wish to inform you that I cannot identify any specific
records/documents held by the MPS that will satisfy your request based
on the details you have provided. This needs to be directed to Mr
Woolas via the Home Office

I propose to transfer your request to the Home Office therefore I
seek your confirmation that you accept this transfer. Attached is a
confirmation slip for you to complete and return. You are welcome to
inform us of your decision via email using the email address at the
top of the page.

Alternatively you may wish to submit your request directly to the Home
Office. The contact details for this organisation are:
Home Office
Direct Communications Unit
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Email: [email address]

If I do not receive your confirmation of acceptance of transfer by
23rd March I will assume you no longer wish to proceed with Q1
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 Alex Norrie on telephone number 0207 230 3153 quoting
the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Alex Norrie
Information Manager

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Dear Mr Walker

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010020005529
I write in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 25/02/2010. I note
you seek access to the following information:

* On Wednesday 24th February 2010 The London Evening Standard newspaper
reported that ‘BNP thugs will try to provoke violence during the
general election campaign in London, a government minister warned
today’ and that, immigration minister Phil Woolas said there was no
doubt that “bad people” in the racist party — whose leader Nick
Griffin is standing for election in Barking and Dagenham — would
“like to cause trouble”
* . 2) Can you confirm that this is the case and if so what preventative
measures you intend to take?

DECISION

In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a Refusal Notice for
this particular request under Section 17(4).

Section 17(4) of the Act provides:

(4) A public authority is not obliged to make a statement under subsection
(1)(c) or (3) if, or to the extent that, the statement would involve the
disclosure of information which would itself be exempt information.

The Metropolitan Police Service can neither confirm nor deny that it holds
the information you requested as the duty in Section 1(1)(a) of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not apply, by virtue of the following
exemptions:

Section 31 - Law enforcement

Section 31 is a prejudice based qualified exemptions and there is a
requirement to articulate the harm that would be caused in confirming or
nor that the information is held as well as carrying out a public interest
test.
Overall Harm in Confirming or Denying whether any other information is
held
Modern-day policing is intelligence led, and intelligence changes on a
day-by-day basis. Disclosures under the Freedom of Information Act are
disclosures to the world, not just to the individual making the request.
To confirm or deny that the police service holds any information, would
provide intelligence to those with criminal intent as to the level of
policing interest which may occur in specific areas which would also
enable those engaged in criminal activity to identify the focus of
policing targets. The release of such information would reveal policing
tactics regarding who was of interest to the police generally. This would
be to the detriment of providing an efficient policing service and a
failure in providing a duty of care to all members of the public.

Factors favouring confirmation or denial for S31 - By confirming or
denying that the police service holds any information , the public would
see where public funds are being spent and would be able to take steps to
protect themselves and their families. Better public awareness may reduce
crime or lead to more information from the public.
Factors against confirmation or denial for S31 - By confirming or denying
that the police service holds any information , law enforcement tactics
would be compromised which would hinder the prevention and detection of
crime. By exposing police operational capabilities, this would give a
tactical advantage to criminals who would choose to use this information
against the police. This awareness would enable members of the criminal
fraternity to take evasive steps to maximise disruption and avoid
detection. More crime would be committed which would undermine future
similar operations and put public and officer safety at risk, which would
impact on police resources.

However, this should not be taken as necessarily indicating that any
information that would meet your request exists or does not exist.

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 Alex Norrie on telephone number 0207 230 3153 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Norrie
Information Manager
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 40 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

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Dear Mr. Walker,

Please see the attached letter concerning your Freedom of Information Act
request to the Home Office

Sincere regards,

Ian

Ian Lister
Information Access Consultant
Information Access Team

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