Operation Ore being stopped

The request was refused by Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

Philip Brennan

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

I understand that Operation Ore got stopped in 2003 when the investigation started hitting into the heart of Parliament and that any reports in the Media were put under a D-Notice so that they could no longer report on this.

One Aide to Tony Blair was arrested on child pornography offences, but Tony Blair had the operation stopped before it could go any further because it would damage his party right before they were about to vote to go to war in Iraq.

It would have caused a scandal that would have impeached his government and led to an emergency General Election, such was the nature of the scandal brewing.

Therefore, I would request information pertaining to whether or not the Metropolitan Police Authority are going to reopen the case now that a new government is in place that does not include the suspects in Operation Ore from within Tony Blair's cabinet.

Yours faithfully,

Philip Brennan

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Brennan,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010050002163
I respond in connection with your request for information dated
13/05/2010, which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on
13/05/2010. I note you seek access to the following information:

I understand that Operation Ore got stopped in 2003 when the investigation
started hitting into the heart of Parliament and that any reports in the
Media were put under a D-Notice so that they could no longer report on
this.

One Aide to Tony Blair was arrested on child pornography offences, but
Tony Blair had the operation stopped before it could go any further
because it would damage his party right before they were about to vote to
go to war in Iraq.

It would have caused a scandal that would have impeached his government
and led to an emergency General Election, such was the nature of the
scandal brewing.

Therefore, I would request information pertaining to whether or not the
Metropolitan Police Authority are going to reopen the case now that a new
government is in place that does not include the suspects in Operation Ore
from within Tony Blair's cabinet.

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 time-scale 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.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

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

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
e-mail or contact me on telephone number 020 7230 1380, quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Sayers
Specialist Crime Directorate
SCD Senior Information Manager
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, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
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

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Brennan,
Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010050002163
I respond in connection with your request for information dated
13/05/2010, which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on
13/05/2010. I note you seek access to the following information:
I understand that Operation Ore got stopped in 2003 when the investigation
started hitting into the heart of Parliament and that any reports in the
Media were put under a D-Notice so that they could no longer report on
this.
One Aide to Tony Blair was arrested on child pornography offences, but
Tony Blair had the operation stopped before it could go any further
because it would damage his party right before they were about to vote to
go to war in Iraq.
It would have caused a scandal that would have impeached his government
and led to an emergency General Election, such was the nature of the
scandal brewing.
Therefore, I would request information pertaining to whether or not the
Metropolitan Police Authority are going to reopen the case now that a new
government is in place that does not include the suspects in Operation Ore
from within Tony Blair's cabinet.

DECISION

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act), this
letter represents a Refusal Notice for this particular request under
Section 17(4).

Section 17(4) of the Act provides:

(4) A public authority is not obliged to make a statement under subsection
(1)(c) or (3) if, or to the extent that, the statement would involve the
disclosure of information which would itself be exempt information.

Section 1 of the Act places two duties on public authorities. Unless
exemptions apply, the first duty at Section 1(1)(a) is to confirm or deny
whether the information specified in a request is held. The second duty
at Section 1(1)(b) is to disclose information that has been confirmed as
being held.

Where exemptions are relied upon Section 17 of the Act requires that we
provide the applicant with a notice which: a) states that fact b)
specifies the exemption(s) in question and c) states (if that would not
otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

The MPS can neither confirm nor deny that it holds the information
relevant to your request as the duty in Section 1(1)(a) of the Act 2000
does not apply, by virtue of the following exemptions:

Section 23(5) Information supplied by Security Bodies
Section 30(3) Investigations and proceedings conducted by Public
Authorities
Section 31(3) Law Enforcement
Section 38(3) Health and Safety
Section 40(5) Personal Information
Section 44(2) Prohibitions on Disclosure

This refusal should not be taken to mean that the information you have
requested exists or does not exist.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

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

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
e-mail or contact me on telephone number 020 7230 1380, quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Sayers
Specialist Crime Directorate
SCD Senior Information Manager
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, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
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

Philip Brennan left an annotation ()

Of course they would reject it (as it has to be under certain sections of the FoI Act), but it lets them know that We the People have not forgotten about the rather prematurely ended investigation and that we still want those named in Parliament brought to book.

Reminding them of this case might get someone with the authority to re-open the investigation to do so.

Meanwhile, I have already contacted my Tory MP with a full outline of the case so that she may ask questions under Parliamentary Privilege.

Let's see if she does...