Avon and Somerset Police Firearms Unit Fleet

The request was partially successful.

Dear Avon and Somerset Constabulary,
Part 1
Can you please give me the list of the Vehicles for the Firearms Unit.
-Model Year
-The Vehicle Make & Model
-Type of Vehicle (Including Van's Wheelbase and Roof Size)
-Number of Doors (Example: 3-Door, 5-Door etc)
-Marked or Unmarked
-The Year the Vehicle was Commissioned

Part 2
When did Avon and Somerset Police Fleet Workshops started to purchase BMW X5 (F15) SUV's?

Yours faithfully,

Agnes Elong

#Freedom of Information Requests, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

Thank you for your request for information. Your request will now be considered and you will receive a response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act. In some circumstances Avon and Somerset Constabulary may be unable to achieve this deadline if consideration needs to be given to the public interest test. If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

show quoted sections

#Freedom of Information Requests, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

1 Attachment

Agnes Elong Our 691/21
Reference
[FOI #758760 email] Date 11
June
2021

 

Dear A Elong,

 

Re: Request for information dated 25^th May 2021 under the Freedom of
Information Act.

 

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

 

1.    Can you please give me the list of the Vehicles for the Firearms
Unit.

·         Model Year

·         The Vehicle Make & Model

·         Type of Vehicle (Including Van's Wheelbase and Roof Size)
-Number of Doors (Example: 3-Door, 5-Door etc) -Marked or Unmarked -The
Year the Vehicle was Commissioned

 

2.    When did Avon and Somerset Police Fleet Workshops started to
purchase BMW X5 (F15) SUV's?

 

Our response:

 

Our fleet database has the first recorded purchase order date of an X5 F15
model as 26/05/2016.

 

The information requested in question one has, on this occasion, been
considered exempt from disclosure. The exemption applicable to the
withheld information is

 

·         Section 31(1)(a)(b) - 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
within a specific unit 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.

 

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 /
division 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 serves as a partial refusal notice under section 17(1) of the FOI
Act.

 

Please note that our current fleet list can be found on our website.

 

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

Dear #Freedom of Information Requests,
Avon and Somerset Police, thank you for responding to my request. I understand that you couldn't give the information for question 1.

Yours sincerely,

Agnes Elong