guidelines for recording of protester data

Dear Mr Sands

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009030003248
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 09/03/2009. I note you seek
access to the following information:

* The Telegraph quotes a Metropolitan Police spokesman as saying, with
regard to the force storing data on protesters, that only:
"Information where legally justified, which meets strict national
guidelines, will be entered onto a Met Police database."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopi...
* What are these national guidelines which the spokesman refers to?
* Who produced them?
* What input did the Metropolitan Police Authority have into their
creation, and what oversight does it maintain over their ongoing use?

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
write or contact Shannon Aldridge on telephone number 020 7161 3527
quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Shannon Aldridge
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 Sands

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009030003248

I write in connection with your request for information that was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 09/03/2009. I do apologise
for the delay in answerring your request and hope you have not been
inconvenienced. I note you seek access to the following information:

The Telegraph quotes a Metropolitan Police spokesman as saying, with
regard to the force storing data on protesters, that only: "Information
where legally justified, which meets strict national guidelines, will be
entered onto a Met Police database."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopi...
1.
1) What are these national guidelines which the spokesman refers to?
2. Who produced them?
3. What input did the Metropolitan Police Authority have into their
creation, and what oversight does it maintain over their ongoing use?

EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
at the Public Order and Operational Support OCU.

RESULT OF SEARCHES

The searches located information relevant to your request.

DECISION

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below the information pursuant to your request above:

1) Personal data is kept in accordance with the Data Protection Act, that
may be viewed through this link:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ukp...

In addition, the ACPO guidance for the Management of Police Information
(MOPI) provides guidance, that can be viewed through this link:
http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publicat...

The Information Commissioner provides further advice, that may be viewed
through this link:

http://www.ico.gov.uk/

The MPS 'fair processing' statement is also attached below.

2) HM Government, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the
Information Commissioner.

3) It is unlikely that the MPA had any input into the documents - The MPA
is a statutory body, established under the Greater London Authority Act
1999.The Authority gives Londoners a regime of local democratic
accountability for policing. The 23 members of the Authority scrutinise
and support the work of the MPS whilst rigorously holding the Commissioner
to account for improving the performance of the MPS.

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 Dave Howe on telephone number 0207 230 0654 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Dave Howe
Public Order Review Unit

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