Officers covering there faces while on 'riot' duty

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Dear Mr Collins

I write in connection with your request for information dated 09/04/09,
which was received by the Information Access Office on 14/04/09. I note
that 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?

If none of your officers are ever seconded for 'riot' duty please
indicate this.

Your request will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000. 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 we 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.

We normally provide information free of charge but there may be occasions
when it would be appropriate to charge a fee where our costs are
excessive. In such cases we will advice you prior to processing your
request.

In some cases it may be necessary to transfer your request either in full
or in part to another public authority in order to answer you request as
comprehensively as possible. Again, you will be informed if this is the
case.

Should you have any further questions regarding your request, please
contact me via email, letter or telephone, quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

Catherine

Catherine Lloyd
Records Manager
City of London Police
Headquarters,
37 Wood Street, London EC2P 2NQ
Tel: 0207 601 2530 | Fax: 0207 601 2088
[1]http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk

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2. http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/

Dear Mr Collins

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REF: COL/09/177

I write in connection with your request for information dated 9 April 2009
in which you seek access to the following information:

1. 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? If none of your officers are ever
seconded for 'riot' duty please indicate this.

The article of clothing referred to is a standard police issue flash
proof headover. This item is used in circumstances where additional
protective clothing is required and provides added protection against
flash burns thus providing officers with an appropriate level of
personal protective equipment (PPE).

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations gives the City
of London Police an absolute duty to provide PPE to employees where
risks cannot be controlled by other means. The Police (Health and
Safety) Regulations require this provision to be complied with so far
as reasonably practicable where the characteristics of the policing
activity are such that compliance would conflict with the exercise of
police powers or performance of police duties.

PPE is defined as all equipment designed to be worn or held by a
person at work to protect against one or more risks and any addition
or accessory designed to meet this objective. The City of London
Police provides suitable PPE to their employees where this is
necessary and appropriate.

In deciding as to whether PPE is suitable the City of London Police
considers if it is:

. Appropriate for the risk(s) involved and the conditions
where exposure may occur.

. Takes account of the ergonomic requirements and state of
health of the person who may wear it.

. Able to fit all wearers correctly.

. Effective to prevent or adequately control the risk(s)
involved without increasing overall risk, so far as is reasonably
practicable.

Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying to your request.
Should you have any further questions, please contact me via e-mail,
letter or telephone, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Inspector Dave Lockyear
Information Access Manager

<<James Collins Reply.pdf>> <<Further Information Letter.pdf>>

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