Complaints about Camden Council
Dear Sir or Madam,
Please provide me with the following information:
1. Number of complaints received since 2005 about Camden Council employees, Camden Council Cllrs and funded/contracted by Camden Council bodies. Please provide a breakdown by year and what category the complaint was.
2. The Met Police Service protocol for dealing with complaints about local councils and related bodies.
Yours faithfully,
T. Morgan
Dear T. Morgan ,
Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2008110000522
I write in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 3 November 2008. I
note you seek access to the following information:
* 1. Number of complaints received since 2005 about Camden Council
employees, Camden Council Cllrs and funded/contracted by Camden
Council bodies. Please provide a breakdown by year and what
category the complaint was.
* 2. The Met Police Service protocol for dealing with complaints
about local councils and related bodies.
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 timescale 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.
Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right
of complaint.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest
in the MPS.
Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
write or contact K.Simmons via the e-mail address at the top of this
letter, quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
K.Simmons
Policy and Support Officer
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 and addressed to:
FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within three months.
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
Dear Sir or Madam,
The information I requested is overdue, please provide me with it shortly.
Yours sincerely,
T. Morgan
Dear Sir,Madam.
Regarding your FOI request below.
1. Number of complaints received since 2005 about Camden Council
employees, Camden Council Cllrs and funded/contracted by Camden
Council bodies. Please provide a breakdown by year and what
category the complaint was.
2. The Met Police Service protocol for dealing with complaints
about local councils and related bodies.
After looking at your request and trying to find out if we have/hold that
information.
The answer to question 1. would be none, as the Met Police do not deal
with complaints.
The only people who would be able to give you that information is Camden
Council.
2. The Met Police do not have a protocol for dealing with complaints about
the council because as above the Met do not deal with complaints.
If you would like to define your request please get back to me and i will
try to assist you further.
Yours Sincerely.
Paula Matthews.
IM Manager.
Phone: 020 87336309.
( Metphone: 46309.
2 Fax: 020 8733 6312
: E-mail: [1][email address]
+ Mail: Paula Matthews.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear Sir or Madam,
Thank you for your response.
I think I may have been unclear on what I was originally requesting so I will give it another go and I hope that I am able to be as clear as I can in what information I am requesting:
I am requesting the number of times a member of the public has contacted the police in Camden/London to report suspected criminal act/s, such as fraud and harassment by camden council employees, camden councillors and voluntary groups funded by camden council.
Please let me know if you are not clear about what I am requesting.
Yours sincerely,
T. Morgan
Dear Mr Morgan,
Thank you for getting back to me regarding your FOI request.
I am not sure that we hold that information, but I am in the process of
doing some checks to see if we do or do not hold the information that
you are requesting.
I will get back to you when I have completed my checks.
Yours Sincerely.
Paula Matthews.
IM Manager.
Phone: 020 87336309.
( Metphone: 46309.
2 Fax: 020 8733 6312
: E-mail: [1][email address]
+ Mail: Paula Matthews.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear Ms Matthews,
Thank you kindly for your assistance in this matter I await your response by the 22 Jan 09.
Yours sincerely,
T. Morgan
Dear Mr Morgan,
I have heard back from our data analyst department and I have been told
that they are unable to extract the sort of data that you are requesting.
However you could get in touch with Camden Council and ask them for all
the disciplinary matters resulting from fraud and harassment.
Yours sincerely.
Paula Matthews.
IM Manager.
Phone: 020 87336309.
( Metphone: 46309.
2 Fax: 020 8733 6312
: E-mail: [1][email address]
+ Mail: Paula Matthews.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear Sir or Madam,
Thank you for your response.
I am now requesting an internal review regarding the Met Police Service not being able to 'extract' the information I have requested.
Yours sincerely,
T. Morgan
Dear Sir or Madam,
Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009010007227
I write in connection with your letter dated 21 January 2009 requesting
that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) review its response to your
request for information relating to:
* FOI complaint regarding original case number 2008110000522.
The review will be conducted in accordance to the MPS's complaints
procedure. The MPS endeavour to respond to your complaint by 18 March
2009.
Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me by email or via the address at the top of the letter quoting
the reference number above.
Thank you for your interest in the MPS.
Yours sincerely
S. Pallen
Freedom of Information Review Officer
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 and addressed to:
FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 40 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
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009010007227
Further to our letter of 29 January 2009, the MPS has unfortunately been
unable to meet the response time originally provided to you in relation
to:
* FOI original case number 2008110000522.
We hope to complete your review no later than 1 April 2009. Should there
be any unforeseen delay, we will contact you and update you as soon as
possible.
I apologise for the delay, and thank you for your patience.
Sarah Pallen
Freedom of Information Policy, Research, Review Officer
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 and addressed to:
FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 40 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
Dear T Morgan
Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009010007227
Further to our letter of 18/03/09, I am now able to provide a response to
your complaint concerning the number of times a member of the public
contacted the MPS to report suspected criminal acts in by Camden council
employees, Camden councillors and voluntary groups funded by the council:
* FOI original case number 2008110000522.
DECISION
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has completed its review and has
decided to:
* Vary the original decision.
REASON FOR DECISION
To conduct this review, searches were conducted at Camden BOCU, Specialist
Crime Directorate, Territorial Policing Headquarters, Directorate of
Professional Standards, the Performance Information Bureau and the
Directorate of Public Affairs.
Can I firstly take this opportunity to apologise for the delay in
responding to your request for an internal review. I can assure you that
every effort was made to respond by the deadline.
Question One
In the original response to your request from Ms Matthews, dated
19/12/2008, you were informed that the answer to question one, the number
of times police had been contacted by members of the public to report
suspected criminal acts by members of Camden council and other affiliated
groups, was not held. I can in fact confirm that the information you have
requested is held by the MPS.
However, to provide you with the information you have requested would
exceed the cost limit prescribed by the Act. Therefore you should have
been issued a refusal notice under Section 17 (1) of the Act.
Section 17 (1) of the Act provides:
(1)A public authority which, in relation to any request for information,
is to any extent relying on a claim that any provision in part II relating
to the duty to confirm or deny is relevant to the request or on a claim
that information is exempt information must, within the time for complying
with section 1(1), give the applicant a notice which-
(a) states the fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question, and
(c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption
applies.
Section 12 of the Act provides:
(1) Section 1 (1) does not oblige a public authority to comply with a
request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of
complying with the request would exceed the appropriate limit.
(2) Subsection (1) does not exempt the public authority from its
obligation to comply with paragraph (a) of section 191) unless the
estimated cost of complying with that paragraph alone would exceed the
appropriate limit.
(3) In subsection (1) and (2) 'the appropriate limit' means such amount as
may be prescribed, as different amounts may be prescribed in relation to
different cases.
The cost of providing you with the information requested is above the
amount to which we are legally required to respond. i.e the cost of
locating and retrieving the information exceeds the 'appropriate level' as
stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit)
Regulations 2004. We estimate that the cost of complying with question 1
of your original request would exceed the appropriate limit of **450. The
appropriate limit has been specified in regulations and for agencies
outside central Government; this is set at **450.00. This represents the
estimated cost of one person spending 18 hours [at a rate of **25 per
hour] in determining whether the MPS holds the information, and locating,
retrieving and extracting the information.
In response to question 1, a search on our CRIS system via the occupation
field on the accused screen revealed that there were in excess of 130 CRIS
records whereby the suspect's occupation was listed as a Camden 'Local
Authority Employee' between the dates specified. To extrapolate the
information requested, such as whether this was committed by an MP or
volunteer group member by virtue of their post, would require a manual
examination of each file and the information contained within it. A
conservative estimate for the time required to undertake this research
would be five records per hour.
Question Two
With regards to Ms Matthew's response to question two, I can confirm that
the MPS do not hold a protocol for dealing with complaints about local
councils and related bodies.
All crime allegations are dealt with as per HOCR (Home Office Counting
Rules), NCRS (National Crime Reporting Standards) and numerous standard
operating procedures for the investigation of specific crimes.
COMPLAINT RIGHTS
If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights which explains how to contact the Information
Commissioner with your complaint.
Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me at the address at the top of this letter, quoting the reference
number above.
Yours sincerely
S. Aldridge
Quality and Assurance Advisor
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 and addressed to:
FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 40 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
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am requesting that the Met People Service reviews its decision to with-hold the information I have requested. I query why it will be such a great effort and cost to the MPS.
Yours sincerely,
T. Morgan
Dear T. Morgan,
I am unable to add any more information to the review than has already been provided. The reason behind the refusal to provide the information under section 12 of the Act was included in my previous response.
If you are not happy with the MPS decision I would advise you to contact the ICO.
Details of how to do so are included in the 'complaint rights' section of our letters, but have been pasted below for your information.
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
Kind regards,
S. Aldridge
molly brown left an annotation ()
Dear T Morgan
The responses you received are to be expected. No one is able to be straight forward or transparent & no answer to your request will be forthcoming. Therein lies a serious problem. The question is 'why not'
Perhaps there is more to all this than meets the eye afterall the 'speaker of the house' was found wanting.
No one in a public body can be relied upon. They may think they are immune from the laws of the land (mafialike) but public opinion against this merry band is growing apace. To all leaseholders 'you are entitled to see proof of all expenditure' go to court for disclosure! forget the LVT (a cosy setup - no law there I'm afraid - all yawning & overindulged) If the Council issues county court proceedings against you for unpaid service charges or major works invoices - counterclaim even £100 will keep the matter in court - otherwise like clockwork the council will have it transfered to the LVT where there is no justice. The longleaseholder is seen as a 'milkcow' most of the bills are weighted with substantial 'hidden overheads'. Service charge invoices vary dramatically from flat to flat in the same building ( get together & compare notes) - there is a large degree of creative accounting. The chairman of a Council was arrested the other week & charged with benefit fraud! Someone in the housing dept of a council was charged at the Old Bailey with fraud - the case was dropped due to lack of documentary evidence. Apparently there were no invoices merely a few jottings on scraps of pape! So T Morgan don't expect an answer from anybody! It is a very corrupt & sick state of affairs.
T. Morgan left an annotation ()
I understand your anger Molly - been there, seen the movie ....
Be aware that certain tenants of a certain borough wide tenants group set up by the council have been known to 'monitor' this site and my information requests and have been known to send everything I write into various people in the council.
molly brown left an annotation ()
T. Morgan
Sorry for delay responding - 3 yr old down with chickenpox!
Yes is this the dubious one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&h...
T. Morgan left an annotation ()
Hi Molly,
Yes its a public funded political group with strong links to the unions and DCH.
The group has various lackies including a Lib Dem council member who was overlooked by the local party as a parliamentary candidate. A former Lib Dem council member who defected to Labour was subjected to a smear campaign by a committee member of this group.
Oh the dirty world of politics where even the local parties can't trust their own members!
http://caspwatch.googlepages.com/home
http://www.camdencouncilrottenlandlord.b...
molly brown left an annotation ()
Dear T Morgan
Okay So how are we going to spread the word?
It is important to let everyone who suffers under this 'mafia' (or masonic-state) to be aware of at least a fraction of the 'demonic' goings on of this 'corrupt councils' wheelings & dealings'
What other sites can be contacted?
Regards
Molly
T. Morgan left an annotation ()
Molly,
Have you considered setting up a blog about your experiences of Camden Council?
Kind regards
molly brown left an annotation ()
Dear T Morgan
How would I go about that - not very computer literate.
Have lots to share though!!
Best Wishes
Molly
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molly brown left an annotation ()
Camden recently produced an 'unsigned tender document', after many requests, which they said they would rely on to prove an entry phone maintenance contract existed. This covered the majority of their properties; the proposed 5 year contract worked out at approx £5.00 each flat for the whole 5 year period. Camden have been charging in the region of £38 a year to each leasehold flat. Surely this is a clear case of fraud. We have to ask what other supposed maintenance contracts do not actually exist!