Equality before the law

Dear Mr B

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009060000113
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 01/06/2009. I note you seek
access to the following information:

* "As you have probably recently seen in the media there has been a lot
of speculation over certain members of parliament and their fraudulent
expenses. now what i would like to know is:"
* "a)why have they not been arrested for fraud theft and deception?"
* " b)certain members preventing this information from being released
into public knowledge which is classed as obstruction of justice."
* "c)equality before the law states that everyone shall be treated the
same no matter whom they are! if i was to fiddle my taxes, committed
fraud, stole from my employer etc i would surely face imprisonment!
why has this not occurred with the members of parliament? why would
the police need to even think about arresting the certain members of
parliament when there is substantial evidence proving that they
without a doubt have committed a crime here? "
* "As you may of noticed recently there has been quite a bit of tension
between the public and the police do you not think that doing the job
you were sworn into office to do would take some of the public
tension away and a little reassurance back to the people by proving
your prepared to do your job effectively and efficiently? as far as i
can tell there has been a mass dereliction of duty amongst the whole
police force to act upon these crimes can you please explain as to why
the certain members of parliament haven't been arrested handcuffed
and interviewed and tried in a court of law?"

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 by email, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Katie London
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 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

Dear Mr B

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009060000113

I respond in connection with your request for information dated 01/06/2009
which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 01/06/2009.
I note you seek access to the following information:

As you have probably recently seen in the media there has been alot of
speculation over certain members of parliament and their fraudulent
expenses. now what i would like to know is:
a)why have they not been arrested for fraud theft and deception?
b)certain members preventing this information from being released into
public knowledge which is classed as obstruction of justice.
c)equality before the law states that everyone shall be treated the same
no matter whom they are!
if i was to fiddle my taxes, committed fraud, stole from my employer etc i
would surely face imprisonment! why has this not occurred with the members
of parliament?
why would the police need to even think about arresting the certain
members of parliament when there is substantial evidence proving that they
without a doubt have committed a crime here?
As you may of noticed recently there has been quite a bit of tension
between the public and the police do you not think that doing the job you
were sworn into office to do would take some of the public tension away
and a little reassurance back to the people by proving your prepared to do
your job effectively and efficiently?
as far as i can tell there has been a mass dereliction of duty amongst the
whole police force to act upon these crimes can you please explain as to
why the certain members of parliament haven't been arrested handcuffed
and interviewed and tried in a court of law?

DECISION

The MPS has launched an investigation into allegations of misuse of
expenses by a number of MPs and peers.

Please see the attached website:

http://cms.met.police.uk/news/major_oper...

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 the reference number
above.

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 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