AUCSO
Dear University of Warwick,
I would like to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
BACKGROUND
I understand your university is a member of the Association of University Chief Security Officers (AUCSO), which runs a Special Interest Group on Protest and Encampments/Protests and Assembly.
This FOI request will make reference to pro-Palestine protest activity, which I would like you to interpret as including but not limited to the following activities: encampments, chanting, gatherings and demonstrations, written or verbal comments and flyering.
QUESTIONS
Please provide:
1. Copies of all emails exchanged between your university staff*, AUCSO and other universities’ security teams since 1 October 2023 discussing Palestine protest activity on your campus, as well as copies of any documents/images attached to those emails or included in the body of the emails.
2. Copies of any and all guidance documents your university has received from AUSCO since 1 October 2023 in connection with pro-Palestine protest activity, including but not limited to anything addressing the following:
- Encampments
- Sharing data with police
- When to make Prevent referrals
- Sharing data with the Home Office
- Disciplinary action
3. A list of any and all meetings between AUCSO and any university staff* which have taken place at your university since 1 October 2023 to discuss Pro-Palestine protest activity.
4. For each of the meetings covered under the scope of question 3, please provide the:
A. The meeting agenda
B. The list of attendees and apologies
C. Meeting minutes
D. Any presentations shown at the meeting
E. Documents circulated during the meeting
5. Please provide copies of all emails sent and received by your university staff* and police since 17 May 2024 discussing Palestine protest activity on your campus, as well as copies of any documents/images attached to those emails or included in the body of the emails.
6. A list of any and all meetings between police and any university staff* which have taken place at your university since 17 May 2024 to discuss Pro-Palestine protest activity.
7. For each of the meetings covered under the scope of question 3, please provide the:
A. The meeting agenda
B. The list of attendees and apologies
C. Meeting minutes
D. Any presentations shown at the meeting
E. Documents circulated during the meeting
*A NOTE ON S12 COST EXEMPTION:
In regards to question 1-7 above, if it would exceed the cost limit to conduct searches for information held by all relevant university staff and departments who have emailed/met with police and AUCSO - then please restrict your searches to the systems/inboxes used by your university’s security team, the team responsible for student wellbeing/welfare and the senior leadership team including your Vice-Chancellor (or equivalent leadership position).
A NOTE ON S40 PERSONAL DATA EXEMPTION:
I understand some of the information covered under the scope of my request may need to be redacted for personal data. Please note that the domain addresses of the sender and recipients of all emails covered under the scope of my request (“@university.ac.uk” or “police.uk”) is not directly identifiable information and should be left unredacted so as to help promote an accurate understanding of who is the sender and recipient of each email (not their personal identity but which institution they represent).
In addition, the ICO has indicated that it is not appropriate for data controllers to redact the names of employees who perform “a role that involves decision-making for which the employee has accountability” (ICO Decision Notice FS50308752, 21 March 2011, at paras 52-57.) This would include all university staff (other than those performing a purely administrative role), and any public officials that they have been in correspondence with. I will, therefore, require your full written reasons in the event you consider you are entitled to redact the identifying information of any individuals, so that I may consider making a complaint to the Information Commissioner.
Yours faithfully,
Harriet Clugston
Thank you for your email to [1][University of Warwick request email], which has
been received by the University's Legal and Compliance Services team.
Please note that FOI requests can also be submitted by completing the
relevant form via our website: [2]Submit a Request (warwick.ac.uk).
We endeavour to respond to Freedom of Information requests within 20
working days and to data subject rights requests within one month.
In the meantime, for general advice relating to [3]freedom of
information and [4]data protection, you may find our webpages to be
helpful.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[University of Warwick request email]
mailto:[University of Warwick request email]
2. https://warwick.ac.uk/services/legalandc...
3. https://warwick.ac.uk/services/legalandc...
https://warwick.ac.uk/services/legalandc...
4. https://warwick.ac.uk/services/legalandc...
https://warwick.ac.uk/services/legalandc...
Link: [1]File-List
Hi Harriet,
We write to advise that due to the nature of the information you have
requested under your recent FOI request, the University is considering the
qualified exemptions under s.43 – Commercial interests and S.36 – Public
affairs.
In accordance with the requirements of these exemptions, the University
must consider as to whether it would be in the public interest for us to
provide you with the requested information. The University has yet to
reach a decision on the balance of the public interest test
considerations. As such, we will be extending the statutory time limit for
providing a response under section 10(3) of the Freedom of Information Act
for a further 20 working days, in order to reach a decision on the matter.
We therefore endeavour to provide you with a response by 04 October 2024.
Kind regards,
Legal and Compliance Services
[2]University of Warwick | University House | University of Warwick |
Coventry | CV4 8UW | [3]Find us on the interactive map
This message is sent in confidence for the addressee only. It may contain
privileged information. The contents are not to be disclosed to anyone
other than the addressee. Unauthorised recipients must preserve this
confidentiality and should please advise the sender immediately of the
error in transmission.
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01DAFE01.7179C8C0
2. https://warwick.ac.uk/
3. https://warwick.ac.uk/about/visiting/map...
Link: [1]File-List
Hi Harriet,
Please accept our apologies for the delay in responding to your request
for access to information held by the University of Warwick.
Due to the nature of your request the University is still considering the
qualified exemptions as outlined below.
Please be assured that we are working on your request and hope to provide
you with a response soon.
Kind regards,
Legal and Compliance Services
[2]University of Warwick | University House | University of Warwick |
Coventry | CV4 8UW | [3]Find us on the interactive map
This message is sent in confidence for the addressee only. It may contain
privileged information. The contents are not to be disclosed to anyone
other than the addressee. Unauthorised recipients must preserve this
confidentiality and should please advise the sender immediately of the
error in transmission.
From: infocompliance, Resource <[4][University of Warwick request email]>
Sent: 03 September 2024 13:02
To: [5][FOI #1156159 email]
Subject: FOI Request - University of Warwick - F506.23-24 JW/IA
Hi Harriet,
We write to advise that due to the nature of the information you have
requested under your recent FOI request, the University is considering the
qualified exemptions under s.43 – Commercial interests and S.36 – Public
affairs.
In accordance with the requirements of these exemptions, the University
must consider as to whether it would be in the public interest for us to
provide you with the requested information. The University has yet to
reach a decision on the balance of the public interest test
considerations. As such, we will be extending the statutory time limit for
providing a response under section 10(3) of the Freedom of Information Act
for a further 20 working days, in order to reach a decision on the matter.
We therefore endeavour to provide you with a response by 04 October 2024.
Kind regards,
Legal and Compliance Services
[6]University of Warwick | University House | University of Warwick |
Coventry | CV4 8UW | [7]Find us on the interactive map
This message is sent in confidence for the addressee only. It may contain
privileged information. The contents are not to be disclosed to anyone
other than the addressee. Unauthorised recipients must preserve this
confidentiality and should please advise the sender immediately of the
error in transmission.
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01DB2087.86E4FFB0
2. https://warwick.ac.uk/
3. https://warwick.ac.uk/about/visiting/map...
4. mailto:[University of Warwick request email]
5. mailto:[FOI #1156159 email]
6. https://warwick.ac.uk/
7. https://warwick.ac.uk/about/visiting/map...
Link: [1]File-List
Hi Harriet,
Further to your request for information from the University of Warwick
under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. With apologies for the
delay, please find attached the University’s response.
Kind regards,
Legal and Compliance Services
[2]University of Warwick | University House | University of Warwick |
Coventry | CV4 8UW | [3]Find us on the interactive map
This message is sent in confidence for the addressee only. It may contain
privileged information. The contents are not to be disclosed to anyone
other than the addressee. Unauthorised recipients must preserve this
confidentiality and should please advise the sender immediately of the
error in transmission.
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01DB3CDA.6F295B40
2. https://warwick.ac.uk/
3. https://warwick.ac.uk/about/visiting/map...
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