Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

a. How many calls were made for Police assistance by Airline staff
on the following days; (please list for each day and sorted by
airline)

8/01/10
9/01/10
10/01/10

b. On average how many calls were made per day for Police
assistance by Airline staff on the following years 2007,08,09
(please sort by airline)

Yours faithfully,

Paul

Dear Paul,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No:2010010001904

I write in connection with your request for information which was
received by Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 11/01/2010.

"a. How many calls were made for Police assistance by Airline staff
on the following days; (please list for each day and sorted by
airline)

8/01/10
9/01/10
10/01/10

b. On average how many calls were made per day for Police assistance by
Airline staff on the following years 2007,08,09 (please sort by airline)"

Under section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act, a request is not deemed
to be 'valid' unless it is accompanied by the name of the applicant. At
present, name you have submitted does not meet this requirement. To assist
you, I have provided the relevant section of the Act below, and included
the link to the ICO guidance on valid names and addresses.
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/l...
Page 3 of the guidance contains a useful example which I have included
below:
"Mr Arthur Thomas Roberts could satisfy section 8(1)(b) of the FOIA by
stating his name in a request for information as ***Arthur Roberts***,
***A. T. Roberts***, or ***Mr Roberts***, but not by stating his name as
***Arthur*** or ***A.T.R.***
LEGAL APPENDIX
Section 8 of the Act provides:
(1) In this Act any reference to a "request for information" is a
reference to such a request which-
(a) is in writing,
(b) states the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence,
and
(c) describes the information requested.
To enable us to meet your request could you please resubmit your
application in accordance with the above requirement. If for any reason
you are unable to do so, please contact me for assistance.
We will consider your resubmitted request upon receipt as long as it meets
the requirement stated above. You will receive the information requested
within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act,
subject to the information not being exempt.
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights which explains how to make a complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me via email quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

A. Duncan
Policy & Support Team

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 A Duncan,

a. How many calls were made for Police assistance by Airline staff
on the following days; (please list for each day and sorted by
airline)

8/01/10
9/01/10
10/01/10

b. On average how many calls were made per day for Police
assistance by Airline staff on the following years 2007,08,09
(please sort by airline)"

Yours faithfully,

Paul Mason

Dear Paul,

Please find attached a letter in connection with your request for
information.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me quoting the reference number above.

<<Doc4.doc>>
Many thanks.

Kind regards,

Inderjeet Dhillon
Information Manager

show quoted sections

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

Thank you for your letter requesting clarification, please take my
request to mean both airline ground staff and aircrew. (please
seperate the data for these two components)

In relation to airports, just London Heathrow will be sufficient
thankyou.

yours faithfully,

Paul

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

Please can you attend to this request? If the response is not
forthcoming within 7 days, i will refer to the ICO.

Yours faithfully,

Paul

Dear Mr Paul Mason

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010010001904

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 11/01/2010. I note you seek
access to the following information:

a. How many calls were made for Police assistance by Airline staff on the
following days; (please list for each day and sorted by airline)

8/01/10 ; 9/01/10 ; 10/01/10

b. On average how many calls were made per day for Police assistance by
Airline staff on the following years 2007,08,09 (please sort by airline.

On the 20th January 2010 you clarified 'please take this to mean both
airline ground staff and aircrew (please separate the data for these two
components). In relation to airports, just London Heathrow will be
sufficient..'

This letter is to inform you that it will not be possible to respond to
your request within the cost threshold. Initial research has been
carried out to determine if the MPS hold the information you have
requested. This has included trying to identify which incidents may have
been relevant to your request, but due to the limitations on the current
MPS systems we are unable to assist any further without examining each
Computer-Aided Despatch (CAD) record. Each of these records will need to
be read, and not all will necessarily be calls for assistance, this could
reasonably be expected to take over 1,000 hours to determine whether we
hold and extract the information.

We estimate that the cost of complying with this request would exceed the
appropriate limit. The appropriate limit has been specified in regulations
and for agencies outside central Government; this is set at **450.00.
This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 18 hours [at a
rate of **25 per hour] in determining whether the MPS holds the
information, and locating, retrieving and extracting the information.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts
as a Refusal Notice.

Section 17(5) of the Act provides:

(5) A public authority which, in relation to any request for information,
is relying on a claim that section 12 or 14 applies must, within the time
for complying with section 1(1), give the applicant a notice stating that
fact.

Section 12 of the Act provides:

(1) Section 1(1) does not oblige a public authority to comply with a
request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of
complying with the request would exceed the appropriate limit.

The information Commissioner has issued guidelines on using the Fees
regulations dated 26 June 2009, stating ' Section 12 makes it clear that a
public authority does not have to make a precise calculation of the costs
of complying with a request. Only an estimate is required ... what
amounts to a reasonable estimate can only be considered on a case by case
basis.' The Information Commissioner also advises 'where a reasonable
estimate has been made that the appropriate limit would be exceeded, there
is no requirement for a public authority to undertake work up to the
limit.'

Under Section 16 (duty to assist) we are required to offer you the
opportunity to redefine your request within the cost limit. Therefore, we
invite you to redefine your request within three months from the date of
this letter. If we do not hear from you by 9 May 2010 we will treat this
request as withdrawn.

If you wish to discuss redefining your request, please contact me on
details shown at top of this letter.

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 Inderjeet Dhillon on number shown quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

Inderjeet Dhillon
Information 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 1TR

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 Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

thanks for your refusal notice, out of time. please refer for an
internal review.

thank you

Yours faithfully,

Paul Masons

Dear Mr/Ms [..........]

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010020002197

I write in connection email dated 9/2/2010 requesting that the
Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) review its response dated 9/2/2010 to
your request for information relating to:

* FOIA Complaint pertaining to 2010010001904.

I have identified the issues raised in your letter as follows: time
compliance and decision to refuse because of the cost threshhold.

The review will be conducted in accordance to the MPS's complaints
procedure. The MPS endeavour to respond to your complaint by 9th March
2010 .

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
contact Julia Wharton on telephone number 0207 161 3657 or at the address
at the top of the letter quoting the reference number above.

Thank you for your interest in the MPS.

Yours sincerely

Julia Wharton
FOI Coordinator & Review 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 Mason

Freedom of Information Review Reference No: 2010020002197

I am now able to provide a response to your complaint dated 14th December
2009 concerning:

* Complaint regarding: 2010010001904

YOUR REQUEST

a. How many calls were made for Police assistance by Airline staff
on the following days; (please list for each day and sorted by
airline)

8/01/10
9/01/10
10/01/10

b. On average how many calls were made per day for Police
assistance by Airline staff on the following years 2007,08,09
(please sort by airline)

On the 20th January 2010 you clarified: 'please take this to mean both
airline ground staff and aircrew (please separate the data for these two
components). In relation to airports, just London Heathrow will be
sufficient).

DECISION

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has completed its review and has
decided to:

* Uphold the original decision
* Procedural complaint upheld (procedure correctly followed)

REASON FOR DECISION

Following your request for a review of the original decision I have
reviewed your request and agree with the previous information manager's
decision that it will not be possible to respond fully to your request for
the above data. This is because we estimate that the cost of complying
with this request in full would exceed the appropriate limit which has
been specified in The Freedom of Information and Data Protection
(Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. For agencies outside
central Government, this is set at *450.00. This represents the estimated
cost of one person spending 18 hours [at a rate of *25 per hour] in
determining whether the MPS holds the information, and locating,
retrieving and extracting the information.

When searching for information pertinent to your request we would need to
look at what calls were logged on to our Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)
system during the time specified that were either created by or allocated
to Heathrow Airport.

When creating a CAD the operator will use what is called a "Type Code"
that is entered onto the CAD itself, this type code represents briefly
what type of incident is being reported. In regards to calls for police
assistance this could be any number of type codes because in theory any
call made to the police is a "call for assistance". However, more
specifically there at least 8 different type codes that means the caller
requires assistance.

The CAD operator also completes a "caller" field which should contain
three pieces of information; namely:

1. Who the caller is
2. What the caller is
3. Where the caller is

For example "Jane Smith, Wtiness, Waits at Location"

There is no relevant field to be completed that would explain the
job/company that the caller was calling on behalf of. Some CAD operators
may include this as part of the "caller field" but it is not compulsory as
long as the three things listed above are included.

That being said, when searching the CAD system for Heathrow Airport an
incident list (the CAD systems way of returning data from a search) would
return Dates and Locations and Types of incidents, but not highlight the
caller field and which calls were made from airline staff (or as you have
requested break it down further still to air/ground staff).

In order to retrieve and find information pertinent to your request it
would mean having to look at each individual CAD that is returned on the
incident list manually to determine the following:

* Whether the remarks field or caller field state if the person
reporting is employed by an airline.

* Whether there are any CRIME reports linked to that specific incident
where we could find out further information about the caller.

If there were crime reports relating to these incidents, the person
searching for information would then need to open up each individual crime
report so they could examine the informants details to find out if it has
been noted they work for an airline.

In order to answer your questions to cover the years 2007, 2008 and 2009
we would need to search through an average of approximately 90000 or more
CADS relating to Heathrow Airport in order to find out the information
that you are requesting.

The below are our calculations are based on a dip sample to estimate how
long it would take to see if information is held:

* Interrogation of CAD system for 24 hour period to find relevant CADs =
30 minutes
* Assuming 25% of CADs a day are from airline staff = 22 CADs per day
* Assuming 2 minutes interrogation per CAD = 44 minutes per day +
original 30 minutes = 1.14 hours
* Time required for 3 day period = 3.42 hours
* Time required for 1 year period = 417.24 hours = 41.724 work days
* Time required for 3 year period = 1251.72 hours = 125.172 work days

In reality nearly all the CADs would probably have to be looked at to
elicit the information required for this FOIA request. Under our duty to
assist I would like to help you in wording a new request in order to help
you as much as I can. As you can see from above, all CADs would need to be
searched for information pertinent to your request, therefore the only
solution would be to request specific days that also specify the actual
times you would like us to search. For example: "calls for assistance from
airline staff on 10th January 2010 between 0100 thru to 0600. However,
depending on the day and how many CAD's need to be searched this may also
prove time consuming.

PROCEDURAL COMPLAINT

I note from your email asking us to review the original request that you
state the response was sent to you late. Having reviewed how the original
request was handled I note the following:

* The original request was sent by yourself on 9th January 2010 which is
a Saturday. Therefore the original received date in terms of the FOA
is in fact "11th January 2010" which is the first working day after it
was received"

* On 13th January 2010 your request was refused by us because it was
invalid (i.e you did not apply with a full name)

* On 13th January 2010 you responded with a new request that was valid
and this new request was acknowledged by the MPS on the same day.
Therefore the 20 days are calculated from the next working day after
the request was received which is 14th January 2010

* Based upon my calculation of the first day being 14th January, the
deadline for this case would be 10th February 2010.

The final response was sent to you on 9th February 2010 by Mike Lyng on
behalf of Inderjeet Dhillon. This would be 1 days prior to the deadline
according to the calculations above. Therefore the MPS view is that with
regard to time compliance procedure was followed correctly.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights, which explains how to contact the Information
Commissioner with your complaint.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me on 0207 161 3657 or at the address at the top of this letter,
quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Julia Wharton
FOI Coordinator & Review 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