Complainant Identifiers

Dear Mr Mason

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2011090001186
I respond in connection with your request for information dated 06/09/2011
which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 06/09/2011.
I note you seek access to the following information:

In a recent FOI response you identified that the Metropolitan Police
records (AG) alleges codes against individual's personal records for
'false allegations'.

In effect this identifies to users of the CRIMINT system that persons have
previously made 'false allegations' against the police.

Can I please have any internal procedures/documents relating to 'false
allegation' procedures, in particular the procedure/process documents
related to this use of the CRIMINT system (AG) coding?

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
contact me on telephone number 020 7230 4019 quoting our reference number.

Yours sincerely

Peter Royan-Posse
Case Investigation 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 Mason

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2011090001186

I respond in connection with your request for information dated 06/09/2011
which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 06/09/2011.
 I note you seek access to the following information:

In a recent FOI response you identified that the Metropolitan Police
records (AG) alleges codes against individual's personal records for
'false allegations'.
In effect this identifies to users of the CRIMINT system that persons have
previously made 'false allegations' against the police.

1) Can I please have any internal procedures/documents relating to 'false
allegation' procedures, in particular the procedure/process documents
related to this use of the CRIMINT system (AG) coding?

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, (the Act), we have 20 working
days to respond to a request for information.

I am sorry to inform you that we have not been able to complete our
response to your request by the date originally stated and as a result we
will not be able to respond within 20 working days.

I can now advise you that the amended date for a response is 01/11/2011

I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights which explains how to make a complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me on 020 7230 4019 or at the address at the top of this letter
quoting our reference number.

Yours sincerely

Peter Royan-Posse
Case Investigation 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 Mason

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2011090001186

I respond in connection with your request for information dated 06/09/2011
which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 06/09/2011.
 I note you seek access to the following information:

In a recent FOI response you identified that the Metropolitan Police
records (AG) alleges codes against individual's personal records for
'false allegations'.
In effect this identifies to users of the CRIMINT system that persons have
previously made 'false allegations' against the police.

1) Can I please have any internal procedures/documents relating to 'false
allegation' procedures, in particular the procedure/process documents
related to this use of the CRIMINT system (AG) coding?

EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
within the Specialist Crime Directorate, (SCD).

RESULT OF SEARCHES

The searches located information relevant to your request.

Police National Computer, (PNC), Guidelines include general guidance on
use of Warning Markers including the False Allegation Marker.  
This information is available to the public, for example by searching the
Internet using the search term "PNC Warning Markers" or "PNC Warning
Signals".
e.g.
http://www.westmercia.police.uk/assets/_...

http://www.acpos.police.uk/Documents/Pol...

http://www.hmic.gov.uk/media/northumbria...

At question 1 you asked:
Can I please have any internal procedures/documents relating to 'false
allegation' procedures, in particular the procedure/process documents
related to this use of the CRIMINT system (AG) coding?
The MPS response is:
'Warning markers' including the AG warning marker derive from the PNC
system.
 
The Standard Operating Procedures for CrimInt add only this general advice
about warning markers:
"Where intelligence exists to justify selecting a warning marker on an
Intelligence Record, the remarks field will be endorsed with the Log URN
of the relevant information. This will assist others to quickly assess any
perceived risk".

If the warning marker is supported by intelligence stored on the CrimInt
system then the Log URN, (Unique Reference Number), mentioned here would
be the reference number of the CrimInt Information Report that contains
that intelligence.

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
contact me on telephone number 020 7230 4019 quoting our reference number.

Yours sincerely

Peter Royan-Posse
Case Investigation Officer
In complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information, the
Metropolitan Police Service will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the
enclosed information will continue to be protected by law.  Applications
for the copyright owner's written permission to reproduce any part of the
attached information should be addressed to MPS Directorate of Legal
Services, 1st Floor (Victoria Block), New Scotland Yard, Victoria, London,
SW1H 0BG.
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).

Dear  Paul Mason

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2011100004531

I write in connection with your letter dated 30th October 2011 requesting
that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) review its response dated  25th
October 2011 to your request for information relating to:

* I am writing to request an internal review of Metropolitan Police
Service (MPS)'s handling of my FOI request 'Complainant    
Identifiers'.  I wish to request an internal review of this decision,
as you have provided documentation relating to organisations which are
not the Metropolitan Police Service. I find it hard to accept that
such an important area of data recording currently appears to have
been given no consideration  with regard to the Data protection act
and the Human rights act? I wonder how the MPS ensures compliance with
these lawful requirements?    Further there is the consideration of
the failure to address this     request within the required 20 days
which i would wish considered as part of the review.        

The review will be conducted in accordance with the MPS complaints
procedure. The MPS endeavour to respond to your complaint by 25th November
2011.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
contact Mike Lyng on telephone number 02071613605 or at the address at the
top of the letter quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Mike Lyng
Quality and Assurance Advisor
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).

Dear Mr. Mason

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2011100004531

Further to our letter of 31st October 2011, I am now able to provide a
full response to your complaint dated 30th October 2011 concerning FOIA
complaint pertaining to closed case 2011090001186.

Original Request (dated 6th September 2011)
     
In a recent FOI response you identified that the Metropolitan Police
records (AG) alleges codes against individual's personal records for
'false allegations'.  In effect this identifies to users of the CRIMINT
system that persons have previously made 'false allegations' against the
police.

Can I please have any internal procedures/documents relating to 'false
allegation' procedures,  in particular the procedure/process documents
related to this use of the CRIMINT system (AG) coding ?

Request for Review (dated 30th October 2011)

I am writing to request an internal review of Metropolitan Police Service
(MPS)'s handling of my FOI request 'Complainant Identifiers'. I wish to
request an internal review of this decision, as

you have provided documentation relating to organisations which are not
the Metropolitan Police Service.

I find it hard to accept that such an important area of data recording
currently appears to have been given no consideration with regard to the
Data protection act and the Human rights act?

I wonder how the MPS ensures compliance with these lawful requirements?

Further there is the consideration of the failure to address this request
within the required 20 days which i would wish considered as part of the
review.

 A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on
the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/co...

DECISION

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has completed its review and has
decided that incorrect procedure was followed in reaching our original
decision. In addition the review has decided to uphold the original
decision that information relevant to this request was provided.

In accordance with The Code of Practice (Freedom Of Information Act 2000,
section 45), I would like to advise you that this complaint process
provides a fair and thorough review of handling issues and of decisions
taken pursuant to the Act, including decisions taken about where the
public interest lies in respect of exempt information. This enables a
fresh decision to be taken on a reconsideration of all the factors
relevant to the points you have raised.

Please see the legal annex for the sections of the Act and other
references that are referred to in this letter.

Review decision in respect of the DELAY IN RESPONDING TO THIS REQUEST:

The statutory time limit for responding to a Freedom of Information Act
request is set out in Section 10(1) of the Act 2000 (the 'Act') which
states that a public authority must comply with section1(1) promptly and
in any event not later than the twentieth working day following the date
of receipt.

Therefore, a public authority must inform the applicant in writing whether
it holds the information requested and if so, communicate that information
to the applicant, promptly, but not later than 20 working days after
receipt of the request. Similarly, when a request for information is being
refused, ICO guidance also states that the public authority must issue a
refusal notice to the requester within 20 working days following the date
of receipt of the request.

Your request for information was received by the MPS on the 6th September
2011 and therefore a response should have been sent by the 4th October
2011.  The response was not sent by the MPS until 25th October 2011. I can
confirm that in this instance a failure to respond to your request within
the time limit is a breach of section 10 of the Act.

The review has taken note of the apology letter sent to you on the 4th
October 2011 explaining that the MPS had not been able to complete its
response and provided an amended date of 1st November 2011.  

The review also takes note of your comment 'there is the consideration of
the failure to address this request within the required 20 days...'  I
would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the delay you have
experienced and for any inconvenience caused by our failure to process
your request in accordance with the legislation.  I hope to reassure you
that the MPS take compliance with the Act very seriously and are working
hard to promote good practice in regard to the processing of requests.  

Review decision in respect of MPS response to your original request

The review takes note of your comment in your request dated 6th September
2011, 'In a recent FOI response you identified that the Metropolitan
Police records (AG) alleges codes against individual's personal records
for 'false allegations'.  In this respect the review has considered the
case you refer to; 2011050002628 which states; 'Please provide me with a
response focusing on the two following computer systems; Computer Aided
Despatch ,  Crimint... Please provide details of what information is
retained and how it is displayed for viewing. In responding to this
request for information, please notify any 'identifiers' or 'coding'
applied to personal information notifying those viewing an entry or record
that this individual has previously made a complaint against the police.'
 

The review takes note of the MPS response on the 30th August 2011 in the
case you refer to; 'There are no identifiers or coding applied to
individuals on the CAD system including complaints against the police.
Locations can be 'flagged' on CAD.  However, this facility would be used
to highlight officer or public safety concerns, not to highlight
complaints against the police.'  The MPS response in regards to CRIMINT
states 'CRIMINT is the MPS system for storing police intelligence.  This
may include mention of complaints against the police, but complaints are
not typically the subject of this intelligence…CRIMINT can display reports
that detail intelligence held about an individual or a location or a
particular issue.  These are the most often used parts of the system.
However, there are also some records held for individual people and tick
boxes are displayed indicating the presence of warning signals that may be
present on the individual's PNC record…'

The review also takes note of your request dated 6th September 2011; 'in
particular the procedure/process documents related to this use of the
CRIMINT system (AG) coding'.  In this regard the review considered the
response provided to you in the previous case which you refer to;
'...CRIMINT can display the same warning signals that are held on the
Police National Computer (PNC).  The 'alleges' (AG) warning signal relates
to allegations that are made against police that have been shown to be
unwarranted or false….On PNC, a new marker should be entered on a
subject's record for each allegation made.  Under normal circumstances,
the marker should be reviewed after 5 years and deleted unless a
subsequent similar false allegation has been made when it should be
retained for a further 5 years.'

Your request of 6th September 2011 also states 'Can I please have any
internal procedures/documents relating to 'false allegation' procedures…'
The review takes note of the MPS response on the 25th October 2011 to your
request for held information which states '…(PNC), Guidelines include
general guidance on use of Warning markers including the False Allegation
Marker.'  As this information was already in the public domain additional
links were provided to assist you. In regard to the first link concerning
the PNC, which is a national system, it states; 'The PNC allows warning
signals to be entered against individuals who have a P.N.C record.  These
are aimed at alerting staff to specific risks, dangers or illegal
activities of these individuals on P.N.C and thus assisting with the
prevention and detection of crime and also preservation of life and
property.'

In regards to CRIMINT the review takes note of the MPS response on the
25th October 2011 ''Warning markers' including the AG warning marker
derive from the PNC system. The Standard Operating Procedures for CrimInt
add only this general advice about warning markers: "Where intelligence
exists to justify selecting a warning marker on an Intelligence Record,
the remarks field will be endorsed with the Log URN of the relevant
information. This will assist others to quickly assess any perceived
risk". If the warning marker is supported by intelligence stored on the
CrimInt system then the Log URN, (Unique Reference Number), mentioned here
would be the reference number of the CrimInt Information Report that
contains that intelligence.'

In view of the disclosures outlined above, the review is satisfied that
information held by the MPS in the area you are interested in namely
'false allegations' procedures has been provided to you in full in both
this case and the previous case you refer to.

The review takes note of your comment 'you have provided documentation
relating to organisations which are not the Metropolitan Police Service'.
 In this regard the review is assured that the additional links provided
to you would satisfy a public authority duty under section 16 of FoIA to
provide advice and assistance to persons making requests under the Act, so
far as it would be reasonable to expect the authority to do so.

In conclusion, the review is satisfied that you have been provided with
the information requested in this case pertaining to false allegations
procedures as held by the MPS.  Whilst I appreciate this is not the
response you would have wished for I hope the explanation provided in this
review confirms that you have been provided with the information you have
requested.  The links to other organisations were provided as additional
advice and assistance in this case.

LEGAL ANNEX

Section 10 (Time for compliance with request ) of the Act provides:

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a public authority must comply
with section 1(1) promptly and in any event not later than the twentieth
working day following the date of receipt.
(2) Where the authority has given a fees notice to the applicant and the
fee is paid in accordance with section 9(2), the working days in the
period beginning with the day on which the fees notice is given to the
applicant and ending with the day on which the fee is received by the
authority are to be disregarded in calculating for the purposes of
subsection (1) the twentieth working day following the date of receipt.
(3) If, and to the extent that-
(a) section 1(1)(a) would not apply if the condition in section 2(1)(b)
were satisfied, or
(b) section 1(1)(b) would not apply if the condition in section 2(2)(b)
were satisfied,
the public authority need not comply with section 1(1)(a) or (b) until
such time as is reasonable in the circumstances; but this subsection does
not affect the time by which any notice under section 17(1) must be given.
(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide that subsections (1)
and (2) are to have effect as if any reference to the twentieth working
day following the date of receipt were a reference to such other day, not
later than the sixtieth working day following the date of receipt, as may
be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the regulations.
(5) Regulations under subsection (4) may-
(a) prescribe different days in relation to different cases, and
(b) confer a discretion on the Commissioner.
(6) In this section- "the date of receipt" means-
(a) the day on which the public authority receives the request for
information, or
(b) if later, the day on which it receives the information referred to in
section 1(3);
"working day" means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas
Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday under the [1971 c. 80.]
Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of the United Kingdom.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights which explains how to make a complaint.  

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me on    0207 161 3605 or at the address at the top of this
letter, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Mike Lyng
Quality and Assurance Advisor
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.

 

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