Officers covering there faces while on 'riot' duty

Dear Mr Collins,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009040003441
I write in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 09/04/2009. I note
you seek access to the following information:

"Having just watched the Guardian Newspapers video of the seeming to be
assault of Ian Tomlinson at a G20 protest in London I noticed that many
officers, mainly those in riot gear had obscured their faces with some
kind of scarf.

Is it now a standard operating procedure (SOP) for officers when wearing
riot gear to obscure their faces and if so why and for how long has this
been SOP? "

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 KSimmons via the e-mail address at the top of this letter,
quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

KSimmons
Policy and 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
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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

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Dear Mr Collins

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009040003441

I write in connection with your request for information that was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 09/04/2009. I note you seek
access to the following information:

** Having just watched the Guardian Newspapers video of the seeming
to be assault of Ian Tomlinson at a G20 protest in London I noticed that
many officers, mainly those in riot gear had obscured their faces with
some kind of scarf. Is it now a standard operating procedure (SOP) for
officers when wearing riot gear to obscure their faces and if so why and
for how long has this been SOP?

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.

The item to which you refer is a 'headover' and forms part of the standard
personal protective equipment for officers deployed to deal with disorder.
It is manufactured from a flame retardant material and its purpose is to
protect the face and soft tissues against the risk posed by the effect of
flame or other accelerants and to limit the likelihood of inhaling hot
gases. This piece of equipment has been utilised for at least twenty years
although the design has been modified over the years.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

Thank you for your interest in the Metropolitan Police Service, should you
have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or contact
me on 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