Dear Sir or Madam,

I have noticed a number of reports in the press regarding people
being arrested and then later de-arrested.

In some of these cases the impression given is that the police are
using arrest/de-arrest as a 'convenient' and simple way of
temporarily removing people from a location and detaining them for
a time with out genuine due cause.

I would like details of de-arrests nationally over the past (say)
year, showing the time, police officer, geographic location and
reason for the original arrest and the time, location and
justification of the de-arrest. Can you tell me what information
you hold that could assist me with this?

Also any information that you have collated yourselves regarding
the use of de-arrests.

Yours faithfully,

Paul Perrin

Dear Mr Perrin

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST 1999-2009

Thank you for your request received by Kent Police on 11 March 2009. I
note you seek access, in summary, to the following information:

Statistics relating to de-arrests over the past year.

Your interest in Kent Police is appreciated and pending a specific
response to your request, I enclose a sheet, which summarises your rights.
Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact me on telephone number 01622 194429 quoting the reference
number above.

Yours sincerely,

Freedom of Information Team
Data Protection Unit
Kent Police
Force HQ
Sutton Road
Maidstone
Kent ME15 9BZ

E-mail: [Kent Police request email]
Tel: +44 (0)1622 654429/654413
Fax: +44 (0)1622 654437
Internal: 19-4429/4413

Dear Sirs,

A response to my FoI request is now overdue, this puts the Kent
Police in breach of the law.

I expect my request to be responded to immediately, and an internal
review to be instigated to document the failures of the Kent
Police, and the action taken against the staff that have failed in
their legal duty.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Perrin

Dear Mr. Perrin,

Thank you for your email relating to your request for information
reference 1999-2009 relating to details regarding de-arrests over the past
year.

I apologise for the delay in providing a response to this request. This
unit has been experiencing staffing difficulties and this combined with a
substantial increase in the number of requests received has lead to a
delay in a number of these requests being processed. These issues
are approaching resolution and we hope to be able to resume normal service
in the very near future. I can only apologise again for the delay and
confirm that your request is receiving attention and we will provide the
response as soon as possible.

Many Thanks

Laura Birchley

Freedom of Information Team
Data Protection Unit
Kent Police
Force HQ
Sutton Road
Maidstone
Kent ME15 9BZ

E-mail: [Kent Police request email]
Tel: +44 (0)1622 654429/654413
Fax: +44 (0)1622 654437
Internal: 19-4429/4413

Dear Mr. Perrin,

Please find attached the Kent Police response to your request for
information reference 1999-2009 relating to the number of people
de-arrested in 2008. I apologise for the delay in providing the response
to this request.

Many Thanks

Laura Birchley

Freedom of Information Team
Data Protection Unit
Kent Police
Force HQ
Sutton Road
Maidstone
Kent ME15 9BZ

E-mail: [Kent Police request email]
Tel: +44 (0)1622 654429/654413
Fax: +44 (0)1622 654437
Internal: 19-4429/4413