CIVIL NUCLEAR CONSTABULARY
T h e E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e
Mr. xxxx xxxxxxxxx
C i v i l N u c l e a r C o n s t a b u l a r y
B u i l d i n g F 6 C u l h a m S c i e n c e C e n t r e
A b i n g d o n
Email: request-246969-
O x o n
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
O X 1 4 3 D B
T e l :
0 1 2 3 5 4 6 6 4 2 8
W e b s i t e :
h t t p s : / / w w w . g o v . u k / g o v e r n m e n t / o r g a
Our Ref: 2014-132
n i s a t i o n s / c i v i l - n u c l e a r - c o n s t a b u l a r y
Dear Mr. xxxxxxxxx
I am writing in response to your request for information regarding the below received on 6
January 2015. Your request has been handled under Section 1(1) of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. In accordance with Section 1(1)(a) of the Act I hereby confirm that the
CNC/CNPA does hold information of the type specified.
Could you please provide me with the following information for ALL vehicles in service in
your fleet,
-Vehicle Make & Model
-Vehicle registration
-Vehicle role
-Vehicle identification number
-whether the vehicle is marked or unmarked
Please see attached for the vehicle make and model.
The following is exempt under S24 National Security and S38(1) Health and Safety:
-Vehicle registration
-Vehicle role
-Vehicle identification number
-whether the vehicle is marked or unmarked
The threat from terrorism cannot be ignored. It is generally recognised that the international
security landscape is increasingly complex and unpredictable. Since 2006 the UK Government
has published the threat level based upon current intelligence and that threat is currently at
“severe”.
The release of this level of detail into the public domain is likely to assist potential terrorists, thus
seriously threatening national security. Members of the criminal fraternity are also likely to
benefit from the disclosure as it will increase the publicly available knowledge of the capabilities
of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, potentially making it easier to commit offences. Disclosure of
the information would also assist with the disruption and avoidance of any police response to an
unlawful activity, whether that activity is terrorist related or not.
The disclosure would therefore be likely to make it easier to commit offences and would also
inevitably endanger the safety of those persons working at the sites, members of surrounding
communities and also police officers.
Public Interest Test
Considerations favouring disclosure under Section 24
Disclosure of the information requested would enable the public to gauge the efficiency and
effectiveness of the plans in place to prevent and detect potential terrorist activity. The public
are entitled to know how the police service undertakes its duties to be reassured that forces are
doing as much as possible to combat terrorism.
Factors favouring non-disclosure under Section 24
Disclosure would enable the Constabulary to demonstrate awareness of potential issues that
may impact upon the community and provide reassurance to the public that the police have the
ability and resources in place to prevent and detect any such criminality.
Better public awareness may reduce crime or lead to more information from the public as they
may become more observant in reporting suspicious activity.
Considerations favouring disclosure under Section 38
The public are entitled to know what areas of criminal activity the police service allocate public
funds to, therefore by disclosing this information would lead to better informed public awareness
and debate. Disclosure of the information would assist communities to be more aware of the
level of protection afforded to them.
Considerations favouring non-disclosure under Section 38
Public safety is of paramount importance to the police service and its partner agencies. In this
case the disclosure of information may assist terrorists to further their aims by violent means,
thus putting the safety of members of the public and police officers at risk. Whilst wishing to
embrace the ethos of information disclosure, this cannot take precedence over public safety.
The disclosure of information designed to safeguard the public is also likely to lead to a loss of
confidence in the Constabulary’s ability to protect the well-being of the community.
Balance Test
Whilst I acknowledge that there is a legitimate public interest in disclosing the information
requested, the Police Service will not divulge information if to do so will prejudice national
security or place the safety of any individual at risk. Whilst there is a public interest in the
transparency of policing operations and in this case providing assurance that the police service
is appropriately and effectively engaging with the threat posed the risk of terrorism and other
more common forms of criminality, there is a strong public interest in safeguarding the integrity
of the police in this highly sensitive area.
Having weighed up the competing arguments, I have concluded that on this occasion the public
interest is best served by maintaining the exemptions afforded by Sections 24 and 38. I have
therefore decided to refuse this request
We take our responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act seriously but, if you feel your
request has not been properly handled or you are otherwise dissatisfied with the outcome of
your request, you have the right to complain. We will investigate the matter and endeavour to
reply within 3 – 6 weeks. You should write in the first instance to:
Sarah Shevlin
Disclosures Officer
CNC
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14 3DB
E-mail: xxx@xxx.xxx.xxxxxx.xx
If you are still dissatisfied following our internal review, you have the right, under section 50 of
the Act, to complain directly to the Information Commissioner. Before considering your
complaint, the Information Commissioner would normally expect you to have exhausted the
complaints procedures provided by the CNPA.
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
FOI Compliance Team (complaints)
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
If you require any further assistance in connection with this request please contact us at our
address below:
Sarah Shevlin
Disclosures Officer
CNC
Culham Science Centre
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14 3DB
E-mail: xxx@xxx.xxx.xxxxxx.xx
Yours sincerely
Sarah Shevlin
Disclosures Officer
Civil Nuclear Constabulary
Vehicles Make and Model in the Civil Nuclear Constabulary