Crime, Policing and Fire Group Tel: 020 7035 4848
2 Marsham Street
Fax: 020 7035 4745
London
www.gov.uk/home-office
SW1P 4DF
Richard Taylor
Ms Laura Silver
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
laura.silver@buzzfeed.c
om
29 November 2018
30 July 2018
Dear Mr Taylor
Freedom of Information request reference: 50872
I am writing further to my e-mail of 2 November, about your request for information
regarding the use of restraint techniques in police custody including TASER and “chemical
coshes”. Your request is being handled as a request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
We are considering your request. Although the FOIA carries a presumption in favour of
disclosure, it provides exemptions which may be used to withhold information in specified
circumstances. Some of these exemptions, referred to as ‘qualified’ exemptions, are
subject to a public interest test. This test is used to balance the public interest in
disclosure against the public interest in favour of withholding the information. The FOIA
allows us to exceed the 20 working day response target where we need to consider the
public interest test fully.
The information which you have requested is being considered under section 35 of the
FOIA, which sets out four exemptions designed to protect good government and provide a
safe space for policymaking. Section 35 is a qualified exemption and to consider the
public interest test fully we need to extend the 20 working day response period. We now
aim to let you have a full response by 3 January 2019.
Yours sincerely
Chloe Jenkins
Police Powers Unit