Break-up of the Bishopsgate climate camp

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Dear Mr McCarthy,

I write in connection with your request for information dated 22/04/09,
which was received by the Information Access Office on 22/04/09. I note
that you seek access to the following information:

I would like to know who gave the order to send in squads of police
to break up the entirely peaceable climate camp in Bishopsgate on
1st April 2009. If releasing such information is embargoed, I would
alternatively like to know at what level within the police service,
the Home Office or any other official body the order was given.

I would also like to see any documents which bear on the issue of
why the climate camp was not left undisturbed for a day or two,
with buses and other traffic diverted through surrounding streets,
just as various forms of disruption to the normal movements of
traffic and local residents were considered to be perfectly
acceptable in the vicinity of the Excel Centre where the G20
meetings took place.

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

Catherine Lloyd
Records Manager
City of London Police
Headquarters,
37 Wood Street, London EC2P 2NQ
Tel: 0207 601 2530 | Fax: 0207 601 2088
[1]http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk

P Please consider the environment before printing my email

show quoted sections

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
by MailMarshal
#####################################################################################

References

Visible links
1. http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/
2. http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Dear Mr McCarthy

I write in connection with your request for information dated 2009 and
subsequent request for an Internal Review to be conducted. My
understanding of the issues that you wish to raise is: the delay in the
response to your Freedom of Information Request, in respect of the
'Break-up of the Bishopsgate climate camp'.

The Internal Review will be conducted by a senior officer who took no part
in the original decision making process. We aim to complete the review
and advise you of the result in writing, within two months. It is
anticipated that Commander Rice will conduct the review.

This review will be concluded within 20 days of the force receiving the
issue of late completion of your request, namely the 13th November 2009.

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

Yours sincerely

Sergeant Mike Reed
Information Access Manager

P Please consider the environment before printing my email

show quoted sections

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
by MailMarshal
#####################################################################################

References

Visible links
1. http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/

Dear Mr McCarthy

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REF: COL/09/197

I write in connection with your request for information dated 22 April
2009 in which you seek access to the following information:

1. I would like to know who gave the order to send in squads of police to
break up the entirely peaceable climate camp in Bishopsgate on 1st
April 2009. If releasing such information is embargoed, I would
alternatively like to know at what level within the police service,
the Home Office or any other official body the order was given.

2. I would also like to see any documents which bear on the issue of why
the climate camp was not left undisturbed for a day or two, with buses
and other traffic diverted through surrounding streets, just as
various forms of disruption to the normal movements of traffic and
local residents were considered to be perfectly acceptable in the
vicinity of the Excel Centre where the G20 meetings took place.

Gold and Silver command of events that took place in the City of London on
1 April 2009 was by Metropolitan Police officers and the following
information has been provided by the Metropolitan Police Authority.

At a meeting prior to the 1st April 2009 between the Climate Camp and
police representatives, the police command team made it clear that any
camp unlawfully blocking the highway would be removed.

At about 7pm, cordons were put in place around the Climate Camp
demonstration to prevent disorderly protestors from the Bank of England
joining this protest. However, during this time, Climate Camp protestors
were allowed to leave the cordoned area if they wished. Violent
protestors did approach the outside of the cordons and were moved away.

With the Bank of England protest cleared by 9pm, the Silver Commander
directed that the Climate Camp, which was unlawfully blocking the road,
should be removed and the Bronze Commander was able to move more resources
to deal with the Climate Camp. The protestors were requested to move
under Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 as they were blocking the
main A10, Bishopsgate, thus causing serious disruption to the life of the
community. At about 10.45pm, PSU's started slowly and methodically to
remove the demonstrators to allow the roads to be opened. Reasonable
force had to be used in the early stages as protestors resisted and
consequently a number of arrests were made. This prompted many to pack up
and leave of their own accord. The Bronze Commander allowed ample time
for this to happen, regularly stopping the advance so as to avoid
confrontation. By 2am the road had been returned to the City of London
Corporation so they could begin the extensive task of clearing the debris
left by the protestors.

Further information is published by the Metropolitan Police Authority and
may be viewed via the following link:

[1]MPA: Committees: MPA reports - 30-Apr-09 (06a)

Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying 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

Information Access Manager

P Please consider the environment before printing my email

show quoted sections

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
by MailMarshal
#####################################################################################

References

Visible links
1. http://www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/200...
2. http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/