Katie Hill
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Date as email
Dear Katie Hil
FOI-22-4663 – Clarification of request
Thank you for your emails, received on 17 May and 30 May 2022, which have been combined
into a single request under reference: FOI-22-4663. Your request is being processed in line
with the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (‘the Regulations’).
Please note that under Regulation 12(4)(c), if a request is not sufficiently clear to enable the
public authority to locate or identify the requested information, then there is duty for that
public authority, to provide advice and assistance to the requester in seeking further
clarification.
We are therefore writing to gather more information from you, so that we can comply with your
request.
REQUEST Please note that your questions have been renumbered for clarity.
I have witnessed the excessive use of security staff around the working area in
Swynnerton Staffordshire and am wondering how much money is being spent
particularly here in Swynnerton but also along the length of the build.
1. Please can you give me the cost for the security around HS2 site in Swynnerton and
also UK wide. I would like this broken down into person hour costs and fencing etc
infrastructure etc.
2. There are as i have said a large numbers of NET staff and i would like a list of
companies supplying these security staff both local y and Nationally.
3. Many of the staff appear untrained security what is the minimum qualification of
those PET security staff employed.
4. Please can you clarify if HS2 paid / initiated the recent eviction of the Bluebel Camps
at Swynnerton and if they did initiate the eviction between 27/5 2 and 28/5 /22?
5. We’re they acting on their own behalf or acting on behalf of the local land holding
estate?
RESPONSE
Unfortunately, there are a number of aspects of the above request which are unclear.
For question 1, when you refer to the security in Swynerton, are you referring to the eviction of
protestors at Cash Pit and Closepit Plantation? Or some other security costs?
When referring to a ‘breakdown’ please can you be specific. You request that information be
broken down in terms of ‘person hour costs and fencing etc infrastructure etc’ . Please outline
what you mean by person hour cost? Is it an average of all security staff or some other
definition? Please also define what you mean by ‘fencing; and ‘infrastructure’. Finally, the word
‘etc.’ is too vague. Please define what other spending you require.
You should note that to search for this information at the detail requested, is likely to be subject
to the application of Regulation 12(4)(b) (burdensome requests).
For question 2 are we right to assume that the reference to NET is a reference to the National
Eviction Team? If so, is your request for the ‘companies supplying these security staff’ based on
the assumption that the staff are subcontracted using external companies? In addition, when
you refer to ‘both national y and locally’ are you referring to the eviction at Cash Pit and Closepit
Plantation only, or for al security across the HS2 project?
In question 3, are we right to assume that the reference to PET is a mistype and that you are
referring to NET staff, as in question 2?
For question 4, can you clarify that the reference to Bluebel Camps refers to the evictions at
Cash Pit and Closepit Plantation? Can you clarify the reference to the dates that you include
(27/5 2 and 28/5 /22) and how they relate to the rest of the request? When you ask whether
HS2 Ltd paid for the eviction, are you referring to the security costs or something else?
Finally, for both question 4 and 5, when you ask whether HS2 Ltd initiated the eviction and
whether HS2 Ltd was ‘acting on their own behalf’ are you asking which organisation applied for
the writ of possession issued by the High Court? If not, what recorded information do you
require?
To enable us to proceed with your request I would be grateful if you could resubmit your
request clarifying the issues outlined above. This wil enable us to try to locate the information
that you require.
It is necessary for me to also inform you that once a public authority has refused a request
under Regulation 12(4)(c), and provided reasonable advice and assistance, it does not need to
take any further action unless it gets a response back from the requester.
However, if you decide to provide us with clarification your request wil be treated as a new
request, and you wil receive a response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days, as
defined by regulation, subject to the application of any statutory exceptions.
Right to Review If you are unhappy with the way we have handled your request or with the decisions made in
relation to your request, you may complain in writing to HS2 Ltd. Please find below details of
HS2 Ltd’s complaints procedure which includes your right to complain to the Information
Commissioner.
Please remember to quote reference number
FOI-22-4663 in any future communication
relating to this request.
Yours sincerely
Briefings, Correspondence and Freedom of Information (BCFOI)
High Speed Two (HS2) Limited
Your right to complain to HS2 Ltd and the Information Commissioner You have the right to complain to HS2 Ltd within 40 working days of the date of this response
about the way in which your request for information was handled and/or about the decision
not to disclose all or part of the information requested.
Your complaint wil be acknowledged and you wil be advised of a target date by which to expect
a response. Initial y your complaint wil be re-considered by the official who dealt with your
request for information. If, after careful consideration, that official decides that his/her decision
was correct, your complaint wil automatically be referred to a senior independent official who
wil conduct a further review. You wil be advised of the outcome of your complaint and if a
decision is taken to disclose information originally withheld this wil be done as soon as
possible.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be
contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
