Injuries Sustained in Afghanistan

Richard Taylor made this Freedom of Information request to Ministry of Defence

The request was partially successful.

From: Richard Taylor

14 July 2009

The MoD's published statistics relating to Operation Herrick
(Afghanistan) state that during the period 7 October 2001 to 15
June 2009 210 UK individuals were seriously or very seriously
injured. (1)

For each of those individuals could you please release brief
details of the nature of the injuries sustained.

1.http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4E3537CE-...

--

Richard Taylor

Cambridge

http://www.rtaylor.co.uk

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Richard Taylor left an annotation (12 August 2009)

The MOD have responded to this request by writing to my personal email address rather than responding via the WhatDoTheyKnow address which was supplied to them.

They did not address my request, but sent me a copy of a response they had already made to a related but different, request. That response did not contain any information but merely referred to the published statistics at:

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSh...

I will pass the response onto WhatDoTheyKnow.com and it ought to appear in this thread.

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From: DASA-HEALTH INFO Opcas TL (Cope Hayley Ms)

11 August 2009

Attachment 20090731 FOI KENNEDY PW 15 07 2009 120907 005 REPLY R.doc
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Dear Mr Taylor,

Please see the attached response to your FOI request.

I hope you find this helpful.

<<20090731_FOI KENNEDY_PW-15-07-2009-120907-005_ REPLY_R.doc>>
Kind regards
Hayley Cope (HStO)
Operational Casualties Team Leader
DASA Health Information
Spur 7 B Block
Ensleigh
Bath
BA1 5AB

Civ Tel: 01225 472004

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
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Recipients should note that e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to
monitoring, recording and auditing to secure the effective operation of
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The MOD has taken steps to keep this e-mail and any attachments free
from viruses. However it accepts no liability for any loss or damage
howsoever caused as a result of any virus being passed on. It is the
responsibility of the recipient to perform all necessary checks.
The statements expressed in this e-mail are personal and do not
necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the department.

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From: Richard Taylor

12 August 2009

Dear DASA-HEALTH INFO Opcas TL (Cope Hayley Ms),

I am writing to query the response I have received to my freedom of
information request for details of nature of injuries sustained by
UK individuals serving in Afghanistan.

I was sent a copy of the MOD's response to someone else's related,
but different, FOI request and there is no indication my request
was considered in its own right. The response I was sent neither
contains the information I requested nor explains what exemptions
in the FOI act the MOD is relying on to withhold the information
(assuming it is held). Perhaps the wrong document was attached to
the email?

The response I was sent referred the reader to published
statistics; however given that I referenced the official statistics
in my request I believe it is clear I am requesting more detailed
information than is provided there.

The published statistics do not include any details relating to the
nature of the injuries sustained, they only classify individuals as
either "seriously" or "very seriously" injured. I had asked for
brief details of the nature of the injuries sustained.

I note the correspondence address I provided was not used by the
MOD to respond to my request.

--

Richard Taylor

Cambridge

http://www.rtaylor.co.uk

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From: DASA-HEALTH INFO Opcas TL (Cope Hayley Ms)

12 August 2009

Attachment 20090731 FOI TAYLOR PW15 07 09 100313 002 31August2009 REPLY R.doc
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Mr Taylor,

I do apologise I did in fact send you the wrong response to your FOI
request.

Here is the response to your request.

Regards
Hayley Cope (HStO)
Operational Casualties Team Leader
DASA Health Information
Spur 7 B Block
Ensleigh
Bath
BA1 5AB

Mil Tel: 9355 72004
Civ Tel: 01225 472004

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is
addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or there are problems
please notify the sender and then delete the e-mail (and file(s) if
attached) from your system.
Recipients should note that e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to
monitoring, recording and auditing to secure the effective operation of
the system and for other lawful purposes.
The MOD has taken steps to keep this e-mail and any attachments free
from viruses. However it accepts no liability for any loss or damage
howsoever caused as a result of any virus being passed on. It is the
responsibility of the recipient to perform all necessary checks.
The statements expressed in this e-mail are personal and do not
necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the department.

show quoted sections

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From: Richard Taylor

12 August 2009

Please pass this on to the person who conducts freedom of
information reviews.

My freedom of information request for details of nature of injuries
sustained by UK individuals serving in Afghanistan appears to have
been rejected on two grounds:

1. Cost

2. The information is considered by the MOD to be personal
information

I would like to request an internal review into the decision to
reject my request, I would like the review to consider the
following:

1. I have not been given a detailed breakdown of how the MOD have
determined that responding to my request would incur
"disproportionate" cost. I note that the FOI act does not contain a
provision requiring authorities to assess if the costs of complying
with a request are proportionate or not, but requires an assessment
to be made as to if the costs would exceed the appropriate limit
set out in the fees regulations. If appropriate I would like to
request a "fees notice" be issued.

2. With respect to the statement that "Information on further
breakdowns of VSI and SI casualties cannot be released without
disclosing individual identities" I would like to make clear I have
not requested the release of personally identifiable information. I
have not sought "individual identities" and would expect it would
be possible to release the information requested without
identifying individuals.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/in...

--

Richard Taylor

Cambridge

http://www.rtaylor.co.uk

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From: MOD FOI Internal Reviews Team
Ministry of Defence

13 August 2009

Dear Mr Taylor,

Thank you for your request for an independent internal review of
the response you received to your RFI under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000(our reference: 15-07-2009-100313-002). The
Chief Information Officer - Head of Corporate Information currently
aims to complete reviews within 40 working days of receipt of the
application. Your request for an internal review was received by us
on 12 August 2009. We therefore aim to complete the review and
respond to you by 9 october 2009. The review will involve a full
and independent reconsideration of the decision taken in respect of
your request for information as well as the handling of the case.

Yours sincerely,

FOI Internal Review Team

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From: DASA-HEALTH INFO Fatalities Opcas STL (Baird Lisa Ms)

26 August 2009

Attachment 20090826 FOI TAYLOR PW15 07 09 100313 002 31August2009 ReviewREPLY R.doc
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Mr Taylor,

Please see the attached.

Regards,

Lisa Baird

Lisa Baird
Fatalities and Operational Casualties Senior Team Leader
DASA Health Information
Spur 7, Beckford, Ensleigh
Bath

Tel : 93 55 67687 or 01225 467687

Please note I work part-time covering the following days :
Monday : 09.15 to 17.00
Tuesday : 07.30 to 14.30
Friday : 09.15 to 14.30

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Richard Taylor left an annotation (27 August 2009)

The key element of the document attached to the latest response states:
"As part of the internal review, we are looking at our response locally and will provide you with a response within 10 working days, 10th September 2009. The full internal review is still being conducted by the Chief Information Officer – Head Corporate Information and will be complete by 9th October 2009. "

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From: DASA-HEALTH INFO Opcas Analyst 2 (Haslett Ruth Ms)

9 September 2009

Attachment 20090901 AIT ref15 07 2009 100313 002 Taylor.doc
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Dear Mr. Taylor,

Please see the attached response to your request for an internal review.

Regards

Ruth Haslett

Operational Casualties Analyst
DASA (Health Information)
Mil No. 9355 68480
Tel No. 01225 468480
E-mail - [1][email address]
P Please consider the environment before printing

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is
addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or there are problems
please notify the sender and then delete the e-mail (and file(s) if
attached) from your system.
Recipients should note that e-mail traffic on MOD systems is subject to
monitoring, recording and auditing to secure the effective operation of
the system and for other lawful purposes.
The MOD has taken steps to keep this e-mail and any attachments free from
viruses. However it accepts no liability for any loss or damage howsoever
caused as a result of any virus being passed on. It is the responsibility
of the recipient to perform all necessary checks.
The statements expressed in this e-mail are personal and do not
necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the department.

References

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Richard Taylor left an annotation (10 September 2009)

I have written an article based on the response so far to this request:

http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/uk-injuries-in-...

Link to this

From: MOD FOI Internal Reviews Team
Ministry of Defence

17 September 2009

Dear Mr Taylor,

Reference: AIT 15-07-2009-100313-002, dated 9 September 2009

The informal review conducted by the Head Of Branch of DASA (Health
Information) of the response to your request for information, aimed
to provide you with as much additional information as possible, as
well as background information on NOTICAS reports and the OpEDAR
database in an effort to help and assist you.

Now that the DASA informal review has been completed, please would
you confirm whether you still require a formal internal review to
be conducted by the MOD Head of Corporate Information?

FOI Internal Review Team

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From: Richard Taylor

17 September 2009

I am writing to confirm that I would like the internal review
conducted by the MOD Head of Corporate Information (which has been
offered in respect of my FOI request reference AIT
15-07-2009-100313-002) to be carried out.

I appreciate the additional information released following the
review by the Head Of Branch of DASA, but note that for example no
information has been released in respect of those seriously injured
individuals without an OpEDAR record.

I would like the review to consider if the MoD has now released as
much information as possible in respect of my original request.

Many thanks,

--

Richard Taylor

Cambridge

http://www.rtaylor.co.uk

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From: CIO-CI-AccessReview4(Fall, Joanne C2)
Ministry of Defence

26 January 2010

Dear Mr Taylor,

FOI Internal Review CIO 3/18/1/373

I am sorry for the delay in completing your Internal Review on your FOI
request. The Head of Corporate Information has a self-imposed deadline of
40 working days to complete internal reviews but it is not always possible
to meet this deadline.

I apologise for the delay in providing you with a substantive response. We
aim to reply by 23 February 2010.

Kind regards

CIO-CI-Access Review 4

Ministry of Defence

Email: [email address]

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From: CIO-CI-AccessReview2(Sondhi, Usha Mrs)
Ministry of Defence

22 February 2010

Attachment IR response to R Taylor.pdf
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Dear Mr Taylor,

Please find attached the internal review response to your request for
information of 14 July 2009 about the nature of the injuries sustained by
the 210 UK individuals who were publicly reported as being seriously or
very seriously injured in Afghanistan between 7 October 2001 and 15 June
2009.

Regards

MOD FOI Internal Review Team

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Ministry of Defence only: