Drugs: Found and Lost

Dear Mr Bird,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2008110000007
I write in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 30 October 2008. I
note you seek access to the following information:

* For each of the last three financial years(05/06)and (06/07) and
(07/08) please state if any drugs seized by your force have then
been either lost or stolen from you or otherwise unaccounted for?
* If so please give a date for each incident along with the type of
drug, the quantity and a brief account of how it was
lost/stolen/unaccounted for.

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.

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right
of complaint.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest
in the MPS.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
write or contact K.Simmons via the quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

K. Simmons
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 three months.
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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From: Kevin Simmons
Policy Support Team
Freedom of Information

To: Ben Sayers - SCD12

Good Morning Ben,

Re: FoI request Steve Bird - whatdotheyknow.com
case no: 2008110000007

Could you tell me if SCD could answer this request?

Kind Regards,

Kev.

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Dear Mr Bird

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2008110000007

I write in connection with your request for information dated which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 30/10/2008. I note
you seek access to the following information:

For each of the last three financial years (05/06) and (06/07) and (07/08)
please state if any drugs seized by your force have then been either
lost or stolen from you or otherwise unaccounted for ?
If so please give a date for each incident along with the type of drug,
the quantity and a brief account of how it was lost/stolen/unaccounted
for.

I regret to inform you that the MPS have not been able to complete its
response to your request by the date originally stated.

I now advise you that the amended date for a response is 12th December
2008. I can assure you that every effort will be made to ensure an
appropriate response will be made within this new timescale.

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

May I apologise for any inconvenience caused. Should you wish to discuss
this matter please write or contact Carol Conway on telephone number 0207
230 5192 quoting the reference number above.

Thank you for your interest in the MPS.

Yours sincerely

Carol Conway
Case 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 three months.
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 Bird - whatdotheyknow.com

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2008110000007

I write in connection with your request for information dated [if request
was dated, insert date on request] which was received by the Metropolitan
Police Service (MPS) on 30/10/2008. I note you seek access to the
following information:

For each of the last three financial years (05/06) and (06/07) and
(07/08) please state if any drugs seized by your force have then been
either lost or stolen from you or otherwise unaccounted for?
If so please give a date for each incident along with the type of drug,
the quantity and a brief account of how it was lost/stolen/unaccounted
for.

I regret to inform you that the MPS have not been able to complete its
response to your request by the date originally stated.

I now advise you that the amended date for a response is 30th December
2008. I can assure you that every effort will be made to ensure an
appropriate response will be made within this new timescale.

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

May I apologise for any inconvenience caused. Should you wish to discuss
this matter please write or contact Carol Conway on telephone number 0207
230 5192 quoting the reference number above.

Thank you for your interest in the MPS.

Yours sincerely

Carol Conway
Case 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 three months.
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 Bird

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2008110000007

I write in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 30/10/2008. I note
you seek access to the following information:

For each of the last three financial years (05/06), (06/07) and (07/08)
please state if any drugs seized by your force have then been either lost
or stolen from you or otherwise unaccounted for?
If so please give a date for each incident along with the type of drug,
the quantity and a brief account of how it was lost/stolen/unaccounted
for.

EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
at the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS).

RESULT OF SEARCHES

The searches located records relevant to your request.

DECISION

In respect of your request for:
For each of the last three financial years (05/06), (06/07) and (07/08)
please state if any drugs seized by your force have then been either lost
or stolen from you or otherwise unaccounted for?
If so please give a date for each incident along with the type of drug,
the quantity and a brief account of how it was lost/stolen/unaccounted
for.

Please see the chart below which gives the number of allegations recorded.

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Category | 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | Total |
|--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+------------|
| Lost | | | 1 | 1 |
|--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+------------|
| Theft | 1 | | 1 | 2 |
|--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+------------|
| Unaccounted | | 1 | | 1 |
|--------------+--------------+--------------+--------------+------------|
| Total | | | | 4 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Of the 4 recorded allegations, 3 allegations were substantiated and 1
allegation was unsubstantiated. Please note that the incidents are
recorded using the Home Office categories for the investigation of an
allegation of misconduct against a police officer.
The details surrounding the allegations are as follows;

2005/07: Theft - Allegation of 'Mishandling of Property' recorded against
an officer on 19/09/05. The officer was found to be in possession of case
papers which had contained a bag of heroin as part of the exhibits. This
bag was torn and empty which resulted in an investigation to ascertain
whether the officer was guilty of theft of a drugs exhibit. The
investigation found the allegation against the officer to be
unsubstantiated therefore no further action was taken.

2006/2007: Unaccounted - Allegation of 'Other Neglect or Failure in Duty'
recorded against an officer on 27/03/07. It was alleged that the officer
failed to bag and seal a quantity of cannabis correctly,document and store
it correctly as an exhibit. The investigation found the allegation
against the officer to be substantiated and the officer received a written
warning as a result.

2007/08: Lost - Allegation of 'Other Neglect or Failure in Duty' recorded
against an officer on 26/09/07. The officer allegedly failed to deal with
casepapers and various exhibits including a quantity of drugs in line with
MPS policy. The investigation found the allegation against the officer to
be substantiated and the officer received a written warning as a result.

2007/08: Theft - Allegation of 'Mishandling of Property' recorded against
an officer on 09/08/2007. An investigation was conducted to ascertain
whether this officer was guilty of theft of cannabis held in an MPS
property store. The investigation found the allegation against the officer
to be substantiated. The officer was subsequently prosecuted and found
guilty at court of theft. As a result the officer resigned from the
MPS.

For your further information I would refer you to the Misconduct
Investigation Guide which gives full details of the Code of Conduct to
which all police officers are expected to adhere. This document also
explains the procedures which are employed by the MPS when allegations of
misconduct require investigation and the sanctions which may be imposed if
the allegations are substantiated. In order to assist please find below
the link which will bring you the Misconduct Investigation Guide.

http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/other_...

The MPS expects its staff to behave professionally, ethically and with the
utmost integrity at all times. Any instance where the conduct of our
staff brings the MPS into disrepute is treated extremely seriously in line
with MPS policy

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 Carol Conway on telephone number 0207 230 5192 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Carol Conway
Case Manager
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 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

show quoted sections