Dear Madam or Sir,

This Freedom of Information request relates to the ‘Global Climate
Wake-up Call’ public assembly in Bonn Square, Oxford, around 12:18
(shortly after midday) on Monday 21 September 2009. Please provide
the following information:

1 Police deployment.

1.1 How many police officers were deployed to this assembly?

1.2 How many police community support officers were deployed to
this assembly?

1.3 How many other police staff members (than those in the above
categories) were deployed to this assembly?

2 Information collected.

2.1 How many photographs were taken by the police during the
assembly?

2.2 How many minutes of video sequence were taken by the police
during the assembly?

2.3 For what period of time does the police intend to keep the
photographs and video data?

2.4 How many names for members of the public present at the
assembly were identified from the photographs and/or videos?

3 Consequent actions.

3.1 How many arrests were made during the assembly and/or as a
consequence of the police presence at the assembly?

3.2 How many cases for prosecution were brought (or are being
considered by the police) as a consequence of the police presence
at the assembly?

Thank you very much for your attention, and I look forward to your
response.

Sincerely,

Dr Kaihsu Tai

Dear Dr Tai

Reference No: RFI2009000661

Thank you for your request for information dated 21/09/2009 concerning
details of police deployment, information collected and consequent
actions at the "Global Climate Wake-up Call" public assembly in Bonn
Square, Oxford on the 21st September 2009.

This request will be dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

Your request will now be considered and 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 Thames Valley Police 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.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Thames Valley Police.

Yours sincerely,

Jane Shields
Freedom of Information Administrator

Thames Valley Police Currently use the Microsoft Office 2002 suite of applications. Please be aware of this if you intend to include an attachment with your email. This communication contains information which is confidential and may also be privileged. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the originator and not necessarily those of Thames Valley Police. It is for the exclusive use of the addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient(s) please note that any form of distribution, copying or use of this communication or the information in it is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error please forward a copy to: [email address] and to the sender. Please then delete the e-mail and destroy any copies of it. Thank you.

Dear Ms Shields,

Would you please advise whether you are now in a position to
respond to my Freedom of Information request ‘Global Climate
Wake-up Call, 21 September 2009’ (your reference RFI2009000661)? By
law, you should have answered it promptly, by this past Monday.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Kaihsu Tai

Dear Dr Tai

Reference No: RFI2009000661

I write in connection with your request for information dated 21/09/2009
concerning details of police deployment, information collected and
consequent actions at the Global Climate Wake-up Call public assembly in
Bonn Square, Oxford on the 21st September 2009.

I regret to inform you that Thames valley Police 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 15/11/2009. I can
assure you that every effort will be made to ensure an appropriate
response will be made within this new timescale.

May I apologise for any inconvenience caused. If you wish to discuss this
delay please contact me.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Thames Valley Police.

Yours sincerely,

Jane Shields

Freedom of Information Administrator

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Dear Dr Tai

Reference No: RFI2009000661

Thank you for your request for information dated 21/09/2009 which for
clarity I repeat below.

This Freedom of Information request relates to the `Global Climate

Wake-up Call' public assembly in Bonn Square, Oxford, around 12:18

(shortly after midday) on Monday 21 September 2009. Please provide

the following information:

1 Police deployment.

1.1 How many police officers were deployed to this assembly?

1.2 How many police community support officers were deployed to

this assembly?

1.3 How many other police staff members (than those in the above

categories) were deployed to this assembly?

2 Information collected.

2.1 How many photographs were taken by the police during the

assembly?

2.2 How many minutes of video sequence were taken by the police

during the assembly?

2.3 For what period of time does the police intend to keep the

photographs and video data?

2.4 How many names for members of the public present at the

assembly were identified from the photographs and/or videos?

3 Consequent actions.

3.1 How many arrests were made during the assembly and/or as a

consequence of the police presence at the assembly?

3.2 How many cases for prosecution were brought (or are being

considered by the police) as a consequence of the police presence

at the assembly?

In response to questions 1 and 2 - I am not obliged to supply the
information you have requested. Section 17 of the Freedom of Information
Act 2000 requires Thames Valley Police, when refusing to provide such
information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the
applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the
exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be
apparent) why the exemption applies.

The exemptions applicable to the information are:

Section 31(1)(a)(b)(c) - Law Enforcement

Section 38 (1)(a)(b) - Health and Safety

Sections 31 and 38 are prejudiced based qualified exemptions which require
the prejudice (harm) to be evidenced and a public interest test to be
carried out.

Future police operations may be prejudiced if information is
inappropriately disclosed into the public domain. Protestors may use this
type of information to change tactics and to gauge the likelihood of
detection when committing crime. This may ultimately result in safety
implications for the general public and police officers, placing the well
being of citizens at risk.

Public interest considerations favouring disclosure:

Accountability - when information disclosed relates directly to the
efficiency and effectiveness of the force or its officers. The purpose of
the Act is to make public authorities more accountable and this factor,
therefore, may be applied to a wide range of scenarios from how an
individual or the force fulfils their role or function, to policy
decisions that have been taken in relation to investigations or general
policy issues. In this case, the force may be obliged to demonstrate to
the general public that they are actively involved in the prevention and
detection of crime.

Public debate - where release of information would contribute to the
quality and accuracy of public debate. This factor applies where the
release of accurate information will inform and enhance public debate on
particular subjects that may be topical. In this case the release of
accurate information may inform public debate and boost levels of
confidence within the community.

Public interest considerations favouring non-disclosure:

Interests of third parties - where third party interests might be
jeopardised by release of information. In this case, operational
capability may be compromised by disclosure.

Efficient and effective conduct of the service / force - where current or
future law enforcement role of the force may be compromised by the release
of information. In this case, information relating to the policing of the
assembly in Bonn Square, inappropriate disclosure may compromise the
ability of the force in the future to prevent and detect crime and protect
life and/or property. Information collected concerning the capture of
images relates to surveillance capabilities the police have and to
disclose these details could potentially impact and undermine tactical and
strategic techniques used or considered to target criminal activity.

Public Safety:

Protestors may use this type of information to change tactics and to gauge
the likelihood of detection when committing crime. If the number of
personnel deployed were to be disclosed, it would allow those who are
intent on committing crime or causing disorder to gauge the likelihood of
detection or to identify and target those events with the least number of
officers present. This would then have a knock on effect for the local
community.

Balancing Test
In this case, there are factors favouring disclosure and non-disclosure.
On balance I would contend that the public interest in disclosing the
information is outweighed by that in maintaining the exemptions listed.
With respect, it cannot be in the public interest to disclose information
which would prejudice the prevention or detection of crime or, which would
potentially jeopardise the safety of the members of the public and police
personnel carrying out their duties

Bearing in mind that disclosure made under the Freedom of Information is
disclosure into the public domain; the public interest is not what
interests the public, but what will be beneficial to the community as a
whole. It is not in the public interest to disclose information that may
compromise the force's ability to fulfil its core function of law
enforcement or to endanger the health and safety of the general public, or
our officers.

It is my decision, therefore, that in this case the public interest test
balance favours non-disclosure.

In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a Refusal Notice for
this particular part of your request.

Response to question 3 - No one was arrested at the assembly in Bonn
Square and there are no prosecutions or proceedings pending.

Please contact me quoting the above reference number if you would like to
discuss this matter further. I take this opportunity to thank you for your
interest in Thames Valley Police and apologise for the delay in
responding.

Yours sincerely,

M Hopgood

Freedom of Information Officer

08458 505505

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