Avon & Somerset Police - Vehicle fleet as of 2021

The request was partially successful.

Dear Avon and Somerset Constabulary,

I would like to request the vehicles and vans that Avon & Somerset Police use to date and their plates (if held) and any future orders of vehicles or vans held - I would like to primarily know about marked however you can include unmarked if permittable.

Yours faithfully,

Darren

#Freedom of Information Requests, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

1 Attachment

 

 

Clarification                                                                            
Legal Services Directorate

Force Headquarters, PO Box 37, Valley Road,

Portishead, Bristol, BS20 8QJ

Facsimile 01275 814667

     

  Our 261/21
Reference
  Date
08/03/21

 

 

Dear Darren,

 

Thank you for your request which I have copied below. In order for us to
provide you with the information you require some clarification is
necessary.

 

I would like to request the vehicles and vans that Avon & Somerset Police
use to date and their plates (if held) and any future orders of vehicles
or vans held - I would like to primarily know about marked however you can
include unmarked if permittable.

 

Please can you provide us with your last name in order to proceed with
your request. Section 8(1)(b) requires that a request for information must
include the name of the requester. Any variation of the requester’s title
or first name combined with their surname (e.g. Mr Smith or John Smith)
will be sufficient to meet this requirement. However, a first name or
surname provided in isolation, or a set of initials, will not.

 

I will be unable to start to process your request until I have received
your clarification. If your clarification is not received within 20
working days this request will be closed.

Yours sincerely,

 

Freedom of Information Disclosure Officer

 

[1]ASP-Email-Signature-258px-Nov2018

Please note;

Requests and responses may be published on Avon and Somerset
Constabulary’s website (within 24 hours), some of which may contain a link
to additional information, which may provide you with further
clarification.

 

Whilst we may verbally discuss your request with you in order to seek
clarification, all other communication should be made in writing.

 

Avon and Somerset Constabulary provides you with the right to request a
re-examination of your case under its review procedure.

 

 

show quoted sections

Dear #Freedom of Information Requests,

As per request my name is Mr Darren Raddy.

Yours sincerely,

Darren

#Freedom of Information Requests, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

1 Attachment

Darren Raddy Our 261/21
Reference
[FOI #733179 email] Date 19
March
2021

 

Dear D Raddy,

 

Re: Request for information dated 3^rd March 2021 under the Freedom of
Information Act.

 

I write in connection with your above request where you asked as follows:-

 

I would like to request the vehicles and vans that Avon & Somerset Police
use to date and their plates (if held) and any future orders of vehicles
or vans held - I would like to primarily know about marked however you can
include unmarked if permittable.

 

Our response:

 

Please find attached our current fleet list including vehicles currently
on order. This information is accurate as of the date of your request.

 

Any information relating to the VRM of a vehicle and any covert vehicles
used by the constabulary has been considered exempt from disclosure. The
exemption applicable to the withheld information is:

 

o Section 31(1)(a)(b) of the act which relates to law enforcement. 

 

Section 31 is a qualified and prejudice based exemption which means there
is a requirement to identify and evidence the harm that would be caused by
disclosure and consideration given to the public interest which is below.

 

Harm

There are concerns associated with the release of any information that
would identify the purpose of overt police vehicles and any covert
vehicles as law enforcement could be adversely affected. The release of
this information in relation to police vehicles and policing activities
would equip individuals involved in criminal activity with an indication
of our capabilities. This information, together with other information
already in the public domain would assist those involved in criminal
behaviour in identifying the vehicles that are used for specific purposes
or covert operations. This would render them useless, hinder the
prevention and detection of crime and could compromise ongoing and future
enquiries.

 

Public Interest Test for Section 31(1)(a)(b)

Considerations favouring disclosure

Disclosure may add value to the accuracy of public debate with regards to
resources allocated for the prevention and detection of crime.

 

Considerations favouring non-disclosure

The Police Service has a duty to deliver effective law enforcement
ensuring that the prevention and detection of crime, apprehension or
prosecution of offenders and administration of justice is carried out
appropriately.

 

Disclosing information that would allow the identification of vehicles
could compromise the vehicle’s operational purpose and allow these to be
targeted. Disclosure may reveal what resources are available for a given
role and this information could enable police strength to be determined
and circumvented by those intent on committing crime.  The release of this
information could therefore provide a tactical advantage to offenders
which would negatively impact on public safety and undermine the policing
purpose.

 

Disclosing the details of covert vehicles would provide sufficient
information to those involved in criminal activity of the capabilities
available to the force when carrying out covert activities in certain
areas. This could result in them taking steps to evade detection and to
destroy evidence if they believe that their movements are being monitored.
This could also lead to vehicles and officers being identified which would
render their covert capabilities useless.

Balance Test 

The ability to deliver effective law enforcement is of paramount
importance.  Whilst the value of transparency is recognised, there is no
further tangible benefit to identifying covert operation or the role
vehicles are attached to.  This may be interesting to some individuals
however this is as you will appreciate different to being in the public’s
interest to know.  To disclose this information concerning Police vehicles
would have an adverse effect on our ability to prevent and detect crime. 
Therefore on balance the factors favouring non-disclosure outweigh those
favouring.

 

This represents a refusal notice for any further information relating to
your request.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Adam Northcott

FOI Disclosure Officer

 

Mail: Freedom of Information, Legal Services Directorate, Avon and
Somerset Constabulary, Force HQ, PO Box 37, Valley Road, Portishead,
BRISTOL, BS20 8QJ

Email  [1][email address]

 

[2]www.avonandsomerset.police.uk  |  Follow us on [3]Twitter and
[4]Facebook

 

Please note:

1.                    Requests and responses may be published on Avon and
Somerset Constabulary’s website (within 24 hours), some of which may

contain a link to additional information, which may provide you with
further clarification.

2.                    Whilst we may verbally discuss your request with you
in order to seek clarification, all other communication should be made in

writing.

3.                    Avon and Somerset Constabulary provides you with the
right to request a re-examination of your case under its review

procedure (copy attached).

show quoted sections

#Freedom of Information Requests, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

2 Attachments

Darren Raddy Our 261/21
Reference
[1][FOI #733179 email] Date 19
March
2021

 

Dear D Raddy,

 

Re: Request for information dated 3^rd March 2021 under the Freedom of
Information Act.

 

I write in connection with your above request where you asked as follows:-

 

I would like to request the vehicles and vans that Avon & Somerset Police
use to date and their plates (if held) and any future orders of vehicles
or vans held - I would like to primarily know about marked however you can
include unmarked if permittable.

 

Our response:

 

Please find attached our current fleet list including vehicles currently
on order. This information is accurate as of the date of your request.

 

Any information relating to the VRM of a vehicle and any covert vehicles
used by the constabulary has been considered exempt from disclosure. The
exemption applicable to the withheld information is:

 

o Section 31(1)(a)(b) of the act which relates to law enforcement. 

 

Section 31 is a qualified and prejudice based exemption which means there
is a requirement to identify and evidence the harm that would be caused by
disclosure and consideration given to the public interest which is below.

 

Harm

There are concerns associated with the release of any information that
would identify the purpose of overt police vehicles and any covert
vehicles as law enforcement could be adversely affected. The release of
this information in relation to police vehicles and policing activities
would equip individuals involved in criminal activity with an indication
of our capabilities. This information, together with other information
already in the public domain would assist those involved in criminal
behaviour in identifying the vehicles that are used for specific purposes
or covert operations. This would render them useless, hinder the
prevention and detection of crime and could compromise ongoing and future
enquiries.

 

Public Interest Test for Section 31(1)(a)(b)

Considerations favouring disclosure

Disclosure may add value to the accuracy of public debate with regards to
resources allocated for the prevention and detection of crime.

 

Considerations favouring non-disclosure

The Police Service has a duty to deliver effective law enforcement
ensuring that the prevention and detection of crime, apprehension or
prosecution of offenders and administration of justice is carried out
appropriately.

 

Disclosing information that would allow the identification of vehicles
could compromise the vehicle’s operational purpose and allow these to be
targeted. Disclosure may reveal what resources are available for a given
role and this information could enable police strength to be determined
and circumvented by those intent on committing crime.  The release of this
information could therefore provide a tactical advantage to offenders
which would negatively impact on public safety and undermine the policing
purpose.

 

Disclosing the details of covert vehicles would provide sufficient
information to those involved in criminal activity of the capabilities
available to the force when carrying out covert activities in certain
areas. This could result in them taking steps to evade detection and to
destroy evidence if they believe that their movements are being monitored.
This could also lead to vehicles and officers being identified which would
render their covert capabilities useless.

Balance Test 

The ability to deliver effective law enforcement is of paramount
importance.  Whilst the value of transparency is recognised, there is no
further tangible benefit to identifying covert operation or the role
vehicles are attached to.  This may be interesting to some individuals
however this is as you will appreciate different to being in the public’s
interest to know.  To disclose this information concerning Police vehicles
would have an adverse effect on our ability to prevent and detect crime. 
Therefore on balance the factors favouring non-disclosure outweigh those
favouring.

 

This represents a refusal notice for any further information relating to
your request.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Adam Northcott

FOI Disclosure Officer

 

Mail: Freedom of Information, Legal Services Directorate, Avon and
Somerset Constabulary, Force HQ, PO Box 37, Valley Road, Portishead,
BRISTOL, BS20 8QJ

Email  [2][email address]

 

[3]www.avonandsomerset.police.uk  |  Follow us on [4]Twitter and
[5]Facebook

 

Please note:

1.                    Requests and responses may be published on Avon and
Somerset Constabulary’s website (within 24 hours), some of which may

contain a link to additional information, which may provide you with
further clarification.

2.                    Whilst we may verbally discuss your request with you
in order to seek clarification, all other communication should be made in

writing.

3.                    Avon and Somerset Constabulary provides you with the
right to request a re-examination of your case under its review

procedure (copy attached).

show quoted sections