Campaigns targeting cycling/motoring offences

Dear Mr Mack

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010080002178
I write in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 11/08/2010. I note
you seek access to the following information:

* "For each of the three years to July 2008, July 2009 and July 2010,
please provide details of the amount of time spent by the
Metropolitan Police Service on campaigns actively targeting: a.
Cycling offences committed by those on pedal cycles; b. Those in/on
motorised vehicles illegally stopping in advanced stop line boxes
reserved for cyclists; c. Driving offences committed by those
in/on motorised vehicles (which may include motoring driving
offences associated with advanced stop lines). "

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 Peter Deja on telephone number 0207 161 3640 quoting
the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Peter Deja
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

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Mack

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010080002178

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 11/08/2010. I note you seek
access to the following information:

* For each of the three years to July 2008, July 2009 and July 2010,
please provide details of the amount of time spent by the
Metropolitan Police Service on campaigns actively targeting:
* a. Cycling offences committed by those on pedal cycles;
* b. Those in/on motorised vehicles illegally stopping in advanced stop
line boxes reserved for cyclists;
* c. Driving offences committed by those in/on motorised vehicles (which
may include motoring driving offences associated with advanced stop
lines). .

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

RESULT OF SEARCHES

The searches failed to locate any information relevant to your request,
therefore, the information you have requested is not held by the MPS. The
MPS do not record or hold information pertinent to the lengh of time spent
projects or campaigns as stated in your request.

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 Julia Wharton on telephone number 0207 161 3657 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Julia Wharton
FOI Coordinator & Review 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

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Mack,

Ms Wharton is currently out of the office and will be returning on
Tuesday 31 August therefore I am responding to your email on her behalf.
Please see my response to the points you have raised:

"In accordance with your duty under section 16 of the Act to advise and
assist, please explain what information is held by the MPS relating to
the time spent by the MPS on the activities detailed in my original
request."

Your request asked for the amount of time spent on specified campaigns,
I can confirm that the MPS does not record the amount of time an officer
or member of police staff spent in relation to a specified campaign. To
clarify, as Ms Wharton stated, the information is not held.

"Please confirm whether the MPS holds information relating to the amount
of time spent by the Metropolitan Police Service actively targeting
(rather than on campaigns actively targeting) the offences detailed in
my original request."

Again the above relates to the amount of time spent on a particular
task, the answer remains the same, this information is not held by the
MPS.

"Please advise me on how the request may be reframed to obtain the
information sought"

I would suggest that you request information relating to the number of
offences recorded. For example how many fixed penalty notices have been
issued in respect of cycling offences committed between x and y in z
borough/area.

Regards,

David.

David Edwards | Freedom of Information Quality, Assurance and Compliance
Team

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Mack

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010080004412

Further to our conversation today, I write in connection with your letter
dated 23 August 2010 requesting that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)
review its response to your request for information relating to:

* Original FOI case number 2010080002178.

The review will be conducted in accordance to the MPS's complaints
procedure. The MPS endeavour to respond to your complaint by 21 September
2010. Should you still require an internal review regarding a your second
FOI case (2010080004080), please let me know.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me quoting the reference number above.

Thank you for your interest in the MPS.

Yours sincerely

S. Strong
FOIA Policy Research & 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

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Mack

Freedom of Information Internal Review Reference Numbers: 2010080004412
and 2010080004809

Further to our letter of 25 August 2010, I am now able to provide a
response to your complaint dated 23 August 2010 concerning:

* Original FOI case number 2010080002178

Please note that this Internal Review will also cover your complaint dated
25 August 2010 concerning:

* Original FOI case number 2010080004080

Original request dated 11 August 2010 (FOI case number 2010080002178)
For each of the three years to July 2008, July 2009 and July 2010, please
provide details of the amount of time spent by the Metropolitan Police
Service on campaigns actively targeting:

A. Cycling offences committed by those on pedal cycles;

B. Those in/on motorised vehicles illegally stopping in advanced
stop line boxes reserved for cyclists;

C. Driving offences committed by those in/on motorised vehicles
(which may include motoring driving offences associated with
advanced stop lines).

Original Request dated 23 August 2010 (FOI case number 2010080004080)
For each of the three years to July 2008, July 2009 and July 2010, please
provide details of the amount of time spent by the Metropolitan Police
Service targeting:

A. Cycling offences committed by those on pedal cycles;

B. Those in/on motorised vehicles illegally stopping in advanced
stop line boxes reserved for cyclists;

C. Driving offences committed by those in/on motorised vehicles
(which may include motoring driving offences associated with
advanced stop lines).

DECISION

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has completed its review and has
decided to:

* Uphold the original decision

REASON FOR DECISION

In regards to your first FOI request (2010080002178) for information, Ms
Wharton responded to you on 18 August 2010, stating her searches had
failed to locate any information relevant to your request. She confirmed
the information was therefore not held by the MPS. Ms Wharton explained
that the MPS do not record or hold information pertinent to the length of
time spent on projects or campaigns as stated in your request.

You replied to Ms Wharton on the 21 August 2010, querying the response
provided to you on 18 August 2010. You wished to obtain a greater
understanding of what information is held by the MPS, relating to time
spent by the MPS on the activities detailed in your original request. In
Ms Wharton's absence, Mr. Edwards responded to you by confirming that the
MPS does not record the amount of time an officer or member of staff
spends in relation to a specific campaign. Mr. Edwards clarified
therefore, that the information you seek is not held.

Mr. Edwards also responded to your request for confirmation on whether the
MPS holds information relating to the amount of time spent by the MPS
actively targeting (rather than on campaigns) the offences detailed in
your original request. Mr. Edwards explained that this again relates to
the amount of time spent on a particular task. He confirmed that the
answer therefore remains the same in that the information is not held by
the MPS.

In your follow up letter you also asked to be advised on how the request
may be reframed to obtain the information sought. As the information you
had requested was confirmed as not held, Mr. Edwards tried to assist as
best as possible by suggesting you could request information relating to
the number of offences recorded, which would assist in comparing
statistics, in regards to police work. For example you could request how
many fixed penalty notices had been issued in respect of cycling offences
committed between x and y in a particular borough, between particular
months.

You responded to Mr. Edwards on 23 August 2010, stating that you did not
seek information such as the number of offences committed by cyclists and
others, but purely the amount of time spent by MPS staff on targeting
offences committed by cyclists and other road users. Whilst I fully
appreciate that you are not looking for such statistics, Mr. Edwards
considered the question as a way to indicate positive action by police on
a specific task. Unfortunately the MPS do not have a measure to
specifically indicate how long an officer spends on given task at any
particular time, accordingly, the information you seek is not held by the
MPS.

The MPS received your second FOI request on 23 August 2010. There was a
slight change in wording within this second request. The first request was
for information held relating to police 'time spent on campaigns actively
targeting' particular incidents. Your second request was for the amount of
police 'time spent targeting' the same incidents. As explained within Ms
Wharton's reply on the 18th of August, and Mr. Edwards's assistance on the
23 August, the MPS does not record the amount of officer time spent on
activities. I therefore find that the second request was substantially
similar to the first one and could thus be classed as repeated under
Section 14(2).

ICO guidance on the application of Section 14, states that a request will
be substantially similar to a previous request only if you would need to
disclose substantially similar information to respond to both requests
(i.e. with no meaningful differences).

ICO Guidance on Repeat Requests - Section 14(2)
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/l...

I do however, appreciate that the reason for your second request was to
try and assist the MPS in locating information which may be held in a
recorded format. Whilst it is regretful you feel the MPS did not assist
you under Section 16 (Duty to assist) for the original request and the
second, I take this opportunity at review stage to assure you that I have
conducted a full and proper search for the information you have requested
for both questions. The response remains the same in that the information
you request is not held.

I have contacted a number of departments to try and locate information
which may satisfy your request. I have liaised closely with staff within
CO15 - Traffic, Central Operations HQ and various Boroughs (Merton,
Barnet, Haringay). I have received the same response from all areas of
business. The information you seek is not held in a recorded format. It is
therefore classed as information not held for the purpose of the Act.

I take this opportunity to explain that CO15 - Traffic do not have primacy
over the types of offences you have listed, as each Borough has a
responsibility to enforce offences and also assist in the MPS priority to
reduce road casualties. Whilst Safer Neighbourhood Teams record their
activities on the EPIC database, the actual time spent on those activities
is not recorded.

In terms of actual CO15 - Traffic officers, they aim to enforce offences
wherever possible but have to target those offences that would reduce the
impact on road related deaths and serious casualties. Traffic OCU
(Operational Command Unit) is an intelligence-led Command, and officers
within that unit are used to target areas where they can best achieve
their core responsibility of reducing deaths and serious injuries on
London's roads.

I have been informed that at present, the Traffic OCU have 'performance
Indicators' (PI's) as a tool to measure officers activity when not
conducting 'core business'. These PI's are set by Central Operations and
include the THINK campaign. Officers are debriefed at the end of a shift
and would need to provide details of PI's achieved. The only held
information in relation to individual officer's work in these areas would
be on tickets submitted to CO16. However tickets, like statistics, again
do not provide any detail in regards to exact time spent on handling the
matters you identify in your request.

As the actual information you have requested is not held, the only way the
MPS could assist you in any way under the Section 16 requirements of the
Act, would therefore be as suggested by Mr. Edwards. However, I appreciate
you have already confirmed that it is not the provision of crime/offence
statistics that you are looking for. The original decision for these
requests is therefore upheld. I appreciate this is not the response you
would have liked. However, I do hope this response has further explained
our position in regards to your request.

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 quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

S. Strong
FOIA Policy Research & 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

show quoted sections