Dear Sir or Madam,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

For each of the 14 recorded road traffic accidents in the
Metropolitan Police area in 2007 resulting in the death of a pedal
cyclist, please provide the following information:

a) Number of cases which resulted in a prosecution for an offence,
plus details of the charges made

b) Number of cases where driver improvement courses was offered
and/or taken

d) Number of cases where a caution or warning was given to the
driver

c) Number of cases where no further action was taken, with
summaries of why this was decided upon (e.g. lack of witness,
unable to trace parties involved, etc)

Any assistance you can provide in letting me know how you hold or
structure this data would be appreciated in order to avoid the need
to create new information to satisfy this request. I would ask that
you remember the Act’s Section 16 duty on public authorities to
provide advice and assistance to requesters.

I look forward to hearing from you within the 20-working day
statutory time period.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Skene

Dear Mr Skene

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2008080000503

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 01/08/2008. I note you seek
access to the following information:

For each of the 14 recorded road traffic accidents in the
Metropolitan Police area in 2007 resulting in the death of a pedal
cyclist, please provide the following information:

a) Number of cases which resulted in a prosecution for an offence, plus
details of the charges made

b) Number of cases where driver improvement courses was offered and/or
taken

c) Number of cases where no further action was taken, with
summaries of why this was decided upon (e.g. lack of witness,unable to
trace parties involved, etc)

d) Number of cases where a caution or warning was given to the driver

Any assistance you can provide in letting me know how you hold or
structure this data would be appreciated in order to avoid the need to
create new information to satisfy this request. I would ask that you
remember the Act’s Section 16 duty on public authorities to provide advice
and assistance to requesters.

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.

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

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
the MPS.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact the FOI Policy and Support Team at
[the Met request email] quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

S.Pallen
Policy and Support Officer
Metropolitan Police Service
Public Access Office

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 three months.

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 Sir/Madam,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2008080000503

I write in connection with your request for information dated 01/08/2008
which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 01/08/2008.
I note you seek access to the following information:

· For each of the 14 recorded road traffic accidents in the
Metropolitan Police area in 2007 resulting in the death of a pedal
cyclist, please provide the following information:
a) Number of cases which resulted in a prosecution for an offence, plus
details of the charges made
b) Number of cases where driver improvement courses was offered and/or
taken
c) Number of cases where no further action was taken, with
summaries of why this was decided upon (e.g. lack of witness,unable to
trace parties involved, etc)
d) Number of cases where a caution or warning was given to the driver
Any assistance you can provide in letting me know how you hold or
structure this data would be appreciated in order to avoid the need to
create new information to satisfy this request. I would ask that you
remember the Act’s Section 16 duty on public authorities to provide advice
and assistance to requesters.

Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within the MPS
to locate information relevant to your request. I can confirm that the
information you have requested is held by the MPS.

EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
at the Traffic Criminal Justice Operational Command Unit and the Transport
Research Laboratory.

RESULT OF SEARCHES

The searches located 15 records relevant to your request.

DECISION

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

In response to your bullet points:-

a) There was a total of 4 prosecutions.

(i) Without due care and Failing to stop.
(ii) Death by dangerous driving.
(iii) Death by dangerous driving.
(iv) Tacograph offences.

b) 0

c) & d) Reversed to your e-mail, therefore:- c) 0
d) There were 9 cases where no further action was taken and 2 cases where
no suspect
could be identifed.

The 9 cases where no further action was
taken were as a result of Crown Prosection
Service advice.
The decision recorded in each case is - "No Prosecution -
Evidential".

With regard to how the information is held/structure, ours is in file and
electronic format, but you are also advised to contact the Transport
Research Laboratory as the check on the statistics concerning the total
number of fatalities was conducted with them and as such they are the
holders of that information.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

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

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
the MPS.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Deborah Picozzi on telephone number 020 7230 7450 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Deborah Picozzi
Information Manager

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 three months.

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