Fleet request

The request was partially successful.

Dear Avon and Somerset Constabulary,

Please could I request the following information regarding all vehicles within your fleet (dating from the year 2000 till present):
- The Vehicle Make & Model 
- The Registration Number
- The role of the vehicle
- The year the vehicle was commissioned
- The year the vehicle was decommissioned (unless still in use)

Yours faithfully,
A N

#Freedom of Information Requests, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

1 Attachment

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate Communications Department

Force Headquarters, PO Box 37, Valley Road,

Portishead, Bristol, BS20 8QJ

Facsimile 01275 814667

     

Abdul Naji Our 705/19
Reference
[FOI #578840 email]
Date 28 May
 

 

 

Dear Mr Naji

 

Thank you for your request which I have copied below. In order for us to
provide you with the information you require some clarification is
necessary.

 

Please could I request the following information regarding all vehicles
within your fleet (dating from the year 2000 till present):

- The Vehicle Make & Model 

- The Registration Number

- The role of the vehicle

- The year the vehicle was commissioned

- The year the vehicle was decommissioned (unless still in use)

 

We do not hold historic information relating to our vehicle fleet. Please
let us know if you would like to request our current vehicle fleet list.

 

I will be unable to start to process your request until I have received
your clarification. If your clarification is not received within 20
working days this request will be closed.

Yours sincerely,

 

Mark Ratajczak

Freedom of Information Research Officer

 

[1]ASP-Email-Signature-258px-Nov2018

Please note;

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.

 

Whilst we may verbally discuss your request with you in order to seek
clarification, all other communication should be made in writing.

 

Avon and Somerset Constabulary provides you with the right to request a
re-examination of your case under its review procedure.

 

 

 

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Dear #Freedom of Information Requests,

Yes I would like your current fleet list.

May I ask where I could obtain information about your decommissioned vehicles?

Yours sincerely,

Abdul Naji

Dear #Freedom of Information Requests,

Yes I would like to request your current fleet list.

Yours sincerely,

Abdul N

Dear #Freedom of Information Requests,

Please may i bring to your attention that the timeframe in which you said you'd respond in is almost over. I hope to have a response in the next couple of working days or i may exercise my right to refer this FOI to the Information Commissioner.

Yours faithfully,

A Naji

#Freedom of Information Requests, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

1 Attachment

 

 

 

 

Corporate Communications Department

Force Headquarters, PO Box 37, Valley Road,

Portishead, Bristol, BS20 8QJ

    

 

Abdul Naji Our 705/19
Reference
[FOI #578840 email]  
Date 24^th
June
2019

   

 

Dear Abdul Naji

 

I write in connection with your request for information dated 24^th May
2019.

 

I regret to inform you that Avon and Somerset Constabulary have not been
able to complete its response to your request by the date originally
stated. 

 

I now advise you that the amended date for a response is no later than
22^nd July 2019.  This is due to consideration being given to the
application of a qualified exemption, and as such will require further
consideration regarding the public interest test.  I can assure you that
every effort will be made to ensure an appropriate response will be made
within this new timescale.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Becky Berridge

Deputy Freedom of Information Officer

 

Corporate Communications Dept  |  Avon and Somerset Police

[1]www.avonandsomerset.police.uk  |  Follow us on [2]Twitter and
[3]Facebook

 

[4]ASP-Email-Signature-258px-Nov2018

 

 

show quoted sections

#Freedom of Information Requests, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

3 Attachments

Corporate Communications Department

Force Headquarters, PO Box 37, Valley Road,

Portishead, Bristol, BS20 8QJ

Email [email address]    

 

 

 

 

Abdul Naji Our 705/19
Reference
[FOI #578840 email] Date 22
July
2019

 

 

Dear Mr Naji

 

I write in connection with your request for information dated 24^th May
under the Freedom of Information Act.

 

Specifically you asked:

 

Please could I request the following information regarding all vehicles
within your fleet (dating from the year 2000 till present):

 

- The Vehicle Make & Model 

- The Registration Number

- The role of the vehicle

- The year the vehicle was commissioned

- The year the vehicle was decommissioned (unless still in use)

 

As we do not hold historical information you clarified your request for a
current fleet list.

 

Where I could obtain information about your decommissioned vehicles?

 

 

Our response:

 

Please see the fleet list including make and model attached. Some
information has been deemed exempt from disclosure, the exemptions have
been explained below.

With reference to the commission and decommission dates, these are not
recorded.

 

Section 31 considerations

Unmarked vehicle registration plates, the vehicle roles and any
information relating to covert vehicles has been considered exempt from
disclosure. The exemption applicable to the withheld information is
section 31(1)(a)(b) of the Act which relates to 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

Harm has been identified in providing you with the details of the unmarked
vehicles and all vehicle roles. Release of this information could
allow those intent on criminal behaviour to map our vehicle resources and
establish specialist vehicles which would undermine law enforcement. These
details would allow those criminally minded to identify specific vehicles
and use this information to evade apprehension thus negatively impacting
on our ability to prevent and detect crime.

 

There are concerns associated with the release of any information that
would identify covert vehicles as law enforcement could be adversely
affected. The release of this information in relation to vehicles used for
covert 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 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 unmarked
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.

 

Disclosing the details of covert vehicles would provide sufficient
information to those involved in criminal activity of the capabilities
available to the force when carrying out covert activities in certain
areas. This could result in them taking steps to evade detection and to
destroy evidence if they believe that their movements are being monitored.
This could also lead to vehicles and officers being identified which would
render their covert capabilities useless.

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 unmarked
vehicles.  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 information concerning covert and unmarked 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 represents a refusal notice for this part of your request.

 

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Becky Berridge

Deputy Freedom of Information Officer

 

Corporate Communications Dept  |  Avon and Somerset Police

[1]www.avonandsomerset.police.uk  |  Follow us on [2]Twitter and
[3]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).

 

 

 

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