Do members of CID routinely carry firearms and/or receive firearms training?

The request was refused by West Midlands Police.

Dear West Midlands Police,

I have been informed that members of CID carry firearms and/or receive training. Please could you answer the following questions:

1) Are CID Detectives routinely authorised to carry firearms?
2) What training do CID officers receive to carry firearms?
3) Do you routinely offer firearms training to officers outside of the armed response team?

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request.

Yours faithfully,

Anthony

Freedom of Information,

Please accept this as an acknowledgement of receipt of your e-mail by the
Freedom of Information Unit.
 
If your email is a valid request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act, your request will be dealt with within the legislative
deadline of 20 working days.  Should we be unable to meet this deadline
for any reason you will be notified as soon as possible.
 
Please note that if your email is a request is for your own personal data
you should make a subject access request to the Data Protection Unit.  You
can do this by completing a WA162 form, which is available on the West
Midlands Police website.  Search the West Midlands Police website for
'Subject Access' or go directly to this page:
[1]https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/abou...
 
If you require further information please contact 101 and ask for the
Freedom of Information Unit.
 
You might find what you are looking for on our website:
[2]http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/
 
If you have information about any crime, you can contact us on the
non-emergency number: 101.
 
In an emergency, for example where life is in danger or a crime in
progress, call 999.

This email is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged
or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the
originator immediately. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or
alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. Views or opinions
expressed in this email do not necessarily represent those of West
Midlands Police. All West Midlands Police email activity is monitored for
virus, racist, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate activity. No
responsibility is accepted by West Midlands Police for any loss or damage
arising in any way from the receipt or use of this email.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/abou...
2. http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/

Freedom of Information,

Dear Anthony

FOI Request Reference: 23120/18

Thank you for your request for information, received 14/12/2018.

REQUEST

I have been informed that members of CID carry firearms and/or receive training. Please could you answer the following questions:

1) Are CID Detectives routinely authorised to carry firearms?
2) What training do CID officers receive to carry firearms?
3) Do you routinely offer firearms training to officers outside of the armed response team?

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request.

RESPONSE

At the moment we are unable to deal with your request as it is not a valid request, to make a request valid we require your first name and surname, please see the following link for more information:

https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...

If you require any further information, then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Andrea Mobberley
Freedom of Information Unit
Corporate Communications
To report crime and anti-social behaviour which does not require an emergency response, please call 101. In an emergency, dial 999.

Internal: 801 2068
External: 101 ext 801 2068
[mobile number]

[email address]

Website: www.west-midlands.police.uk
WMNow: www.wmnow.co.uk/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/wmpolice
Facebook: www.facebook.com/westmidlandspolice
YouTube: www.youtube.com/westmidlandspolice
Flickr: www.flickr.com/westmidlandspolice

View all our social network links

Our vision: Preventing crime, protecting the public and helping those in need

show quoted sections

Dear Freedom of Information,

In line with the ICO document to which you have attached, I have included a 'real name' as defined in the document below. I hope you can now process my FOI.

Yours sincerely,

Anthony Robert

Freedom of Information,

Dear Mr Robert

 

FOI Request Reference: 23120/18

 

Thank you for your request for information, received 14/12/2018.

 

REQUEST

 

I have been informed that members of CID carry firearms and/or receive
training. Please could you answer the following questions:

 

1) Are CID Detectives routinely authorised to carry firearms?

2) What training do CID officers receive to carry firearms?

3) Do you routinely offer firearms training to officers outside of the
armed response team?

 

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request.

 

 

RESPONSE

 

This information is exempt by virtue of:

S31(1)(a) Law Enforcement

This exemption and explanatory notes are shown here:

http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/docs/...

In line with the above, I am required to complete a Prejudice Test/Public
Interest Test (PIT) for Section 31 on disclosure. Please see below.

Overall Harm for Section 31

Harm

To disclose details around officers carrying firearms or receiving
firearms training would undermine individual forces policing capabilities
which consequently would be detrimental to their ability to protect the
public and prevent crime. By confirming or denying that information is
held by an individual force would allow comparison between forces across
the country and it would enable the criminal fraternity to build a picture
of what resources are in place. Consequently, this would prejudice the
effectiveness of the police service as it would allow inferences to be
drawn about force level capability and would identify vulnerability around
the country.

Factors favouring disclosure of the information S31

By providing the requested information would give an insight into the
Police Service. This would enable the public to have a better
understanding of the effectiveness of the police service.  It would
greatly assist in the quality and accuracy of public debate, which could
otherwise be steeped in rumour and speculation. Where public funds are
being spent, there is a public interest in accountability and justifying
the use of public money.

Factors favouring non-disclosure of the information S31

By applying exemptions to the requested information inhibiting its
disclosure would prevent law enforcement tactics from being compromised
and would retain the Police force’s ability to prevent and detect
terrorist crimes. It is given that the threat of terrorism will increase
as more crimes are committed as a result of terrorists gaining knowledge
about the capabilities of individual forces and therefore the public will
be placed at a greater risk, however, by exempting the information those
with the inclination to commit acts of terrorism will not have knowledge
regarding the vulnerability of specific areas and therefore the increase
of threat will be prevented and a fear of crime will not be realised as
terrorists will not know which areas to target and exploit .

In addition, disclosure of the information would have an adverse impact
upon police resources as forces that could be perceived as vulnerable may
need to increase their resources to reassure and protect the community.

It has been recorded that FOIA releases are monitored by criminals and
terrorists and so to release the information would lead to law enforcement
being undermined and would hinder the prevention or detection of crime.
The Police Service would not wish to undermine the law enforcement and
investigative process as this would place individuals at risk.

Balance Test

To indicate levels of policing activity and capability in particular areas
of the country could allow individuals to exploit what may be considered
as less active or resourced areas, by assessing patterns of police
activity and deployments over time, ultimately to avoid detection.  Whilst
there is a public interest in the transparency of policing, there is a
very strong public interest in safeguarding the integrity of police
investigations and operations.  As much as there is a public interest in
knowing that policing activity is appropriate and balanced this will be
overridden in exceptional circumstances. A police force’s capabilities of
combatting crime is a sensitive issue with intelligence value to those
intent on committing crime and therefore, it is our opinion that for these
issues, the balancing test for this information is not made out.

 

As recommended as good practice by the Information Commissioner’s Office a
version of this response may be published on the West Midlands Police
website.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

For further information and data on West Midlands Police see our
publication scheme and disclosure log

 

[1]http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/

 

RIGHT OF APPEAL

 

Your attention is drawn to your right to request a re-examination of your
case under West Midlands Police review procedure, which can be found at:

 

[2]http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/revie...

 

Please note that such an appeal must be received within 40 working days of
the date of this correspondence. Any such request received after this time
will only be considered at the discretion of the FOI Unit.

 

If you require any further information, then please do not hesitate to
contact me.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Andrea Mobberley

Freedom of Information Unit

Corporate Communications

To report crime and anti-social behaviour which does not require an
emergency response, please call 101. In an emergency, dial 999.

 

Internal: 801 2068

External: 101 ext 801 2068

 

[3][email address]

Website: [4]www.west-midlands.police.uk

WMNow: [5]www.wmnow.co.uk/
Twitter: [6]www.twitter.com/wmpolice
Facebook: [7]www.facebook.com/westmidlandspolice
YouTube: [8]www.youtube.com/westmidlandspolice

Flickr: [9]www.flickr.com/westmidlandspolice

 

[10]View all our social network links

 

Our vision: Preventing crime, protecting the public and helping those in
need

 

This email is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged
or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the
originator immediately. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or
alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. Views or opinions
expressed in this email do not necessarily represent those of West
Midlands Police. All West Midlands Police email activity is monitored for
virus, racist, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate activity. No
responsibility is accepted by West Midlands Police for any loss or damage
arising in any way from the receipt or use of this email.

References

Visible links
1. http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/
2. http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/revie...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://exchange.wmpad.local/owa/redir.a...
5. https://www.wmnow.co.uk/
6. https://exchange.wmpad.local/owa/redir.a...
7. https://exchange.wmpad.local/owa/redir.a...
8. https://exchange.wmpad.local/owa/redir.a...
9. https://exchange.wmpad.local/owa/redir.a...
10. http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/conta...