Fatal road crashes, arrests and prosecutions

The request was partially successful.

Dear Metropolitan Police,

Could you please tell me, for each year in the past decade:

How many fatal road crashes involving motor vehicles were dealt with by the Metropolitan Police ?

In how many of these incidents was a driver of a motor vehicle
arrested by the Metropolitan Police ?

Of those arrests, how many were on suspicion of involuntary
manslaughter ?

Yours faithfully,

Ian Jackson

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr. Jackson

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010030004864
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 20/03/2010. I note you seek
access to the following information:

"Could you please tell me, for each year in the past decade:
How many fatal road crashes involving motor vehicles were dealt with by
the Metropolitan Police ?
In how many of these incidents was a driver of a motor vehicle arrested by
the Metropolitan Police ?
Of those arrests, how many were on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter ?
"
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.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me at the above e-mail address, quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

R. Loizou
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 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

show quoted sections

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Jackson

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010030004864

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 20/03/2010. I note you seek
access to the following information:

* Could you please tell me, for each year in the past decade: How
many fatal road crashes involving motor vehicles were dealt with by
the Metropolitan Police ? In how many of these incidents was a
driver of a motor vehicle arrested by the Metropolitan Police ? Of
those arrests, how many were on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter
? .

Q1 Please see attached list of Fatals dealt with by the Met over the last
10 years.

Q2. This letter is to inform you that it will not be possible to respond
to your request within the cost threshold. To locate and get each file
back and then check them for drivers arrested. We estimate that the cost
of complying with this request would exceed the appropriate limit. 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 accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts
as a Refusal Notice.

Q3. Zero, as Officers would arrest for death by Dangerous driving which is
the primary legislation under the Road Traffic Act 1988 ( or in a few
cases Murder), it would be for the CPS to decide upon the manslaughter
issue.

Section 17(5) of the Act provides:

(5) A public authority which, in relation to any request for information,
is relying on a claim that section 12 or 14 applies must, within the time
for complying with section 1(1), give the applicant a notice stating that
fact.

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.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Eric McKenzie on telephone number 02071611125 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Eric McKenzie
Deputy Resource Manager

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 1TR

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

show quoted sections