FOI request - face mask fines

The request was successful.

Dear Surrey Police,

Please can you advise how many fines have been issued since face masks/coverings have been mandatory in shops (24th July) and indoor locations (8th August).

Can you also detail the fine amount as well please.

Yours faithfully,

Naomi Aharony

!Freedom of Information (Surrey), Surrey Police



 

Thank you for contacting Surrey Police, Information Access Team, via the Freedom
of Information mailbox

If you are contacting us regarding a current FOI request and have already
received an acknowledgement email from us, your request has been logged and is
being processed.

We will endeavour to provide you with a response within the statutory timescales
or as soon as practicable after that.   Unfortunately, at the present time, due
to restricted working practices resulting from the Coronavirus outbreak, there
will inevitably be some delays. 

We are currently unable to respond to emails seeking an update, or estimated
disclosure dates as we are focussing on processing all requests as quickly as
possible.  We apologise for any delays and hope that this does not cause too
much inconvenience.

Thank You

 

 

 

!Freedom of Information (Surrey), Surrey Police

Dear Naomi AHARONY,

Freedom of Information: 003149/20 – Face coverings/fines issued

I write to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Request
(FOI).

The Act requires us to respond to FOI requests within 20 working days of
receiving the request. Although every effort will be made to ensure a
response is provided within statutory deadlines, due to current
circumstances delays may be unavoidable. We apologise for any
inconvenience and will endeavour to process your request as quickly as is
practicable.

Yours Sincerely,

Information Access Team
Surrey Police
Telephone 01483 630007

!Freedom of Information (Surrey), Surrey Police

1 Attachment

 

 

Dear Naomi Aharony,

 

I write in connection with your request for information received on 19
August 2020.

 

You had asked:

 

Please can you advise how many fines have been issued since face masks/
coverings have been mandatory in shops (24th July) and indoor locations
(8th August).

 

Can you also detail the fine amount as well please.

 

Response:

Section 1 of the Freedom of information Act 2000 (FOIA) places two duties
on public authorities.  Unless exemptions apply, the first duty at
s1(1)(a) is to confirm or deny whether the information specified within a
request is held.  The second duty at s1(1)(b) is to disclose information
that has been confirmed as being held.  Where exemptions are relied upon
Section 17 of the FOIA requires that we provide the applicant with a
notice which: a) states that fact, b) specifies the exemption(s) in
question and c) state (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the
exemption applies.

Information relevant to your request is held by Surrey Police, however, we
are not obliged to provide information if the information held is intended
for future publication, and exempt this information under Section 22(1)(a)
of FOIA.    
 
The legislation: Section 22 Information intended for future publication  
(1) Information is exempt information if-  
(a) The information is held by the public authority with a view to its
publication, by the authority or any other person, at some future date
(whether determined or not)  
(b) The information was already held with a view to such publication at
the time when the request for information was made, and  
(c) It is reasonable in all the circumstances that the information should
be withheld from disclosure until the date referred to in paragraph (a)

 

Section 22 is a qualified exemption and as such is subject to a public
interest test. This means that Surrey Police have identified the
exemption, and have considered whether the public interest in not
disclosing the information outweighed the public interest test in
disclosing the information.

 

Public Interest Test

 

Considerations favouring disclosure:

 

Surrey Police is committed to demonstrating openness, transparency and
accountability.  Disclosure of the requested information now, would
enhance public knowledge as to how and where the force spends public
funds.

 

Considerations favouring non-disclosure:

 

Publication of the requested information is part of a planned publication
strategy, therefore, to disclose information in response to FOI requests
ahead of planned publication would render publication strategies that are
already in place as obsolete.  Such processes are in place to ensure the
proactive publication of information, which is in line with the ethos of
openness and transparency found within the Freedom of Information Act
2000.  Any disclosure ahead of planned publication would be at additional
expense to the force, and in turn a wasteful use of its resources. 

 

Balancing Test

 

Proactive publication of information assists in meeting the public
interest test, and disclosure at an earlier date would render such
processes obsolete and the force would continuously have to furnish FOI
requests (when there is a process in place which ensures that the force is
open and transparent in regard to such information).  Further information
is set out in the Surrey and Sussex publication strategy under Operation
Apollo: 
[1]https://www.sussex.police.uk/SysSiteAsse...

 

The Op Apollo strategy, is in addition to the NPCC publication strategy
published under Operation Talla:

[2]https://www.npcc.police.uk/COVID%2019/Op...

 

Therefore, it is for the reasons as set out above that we believe the case
for disclosure is not made out, and the public interest in maintaining the
exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the requested
information at this time.

 

In accordance with section 17 of FOIA, this letter serves as a Refusal
Notice for this part of your request.

 

 

Surrey Police provides you the right to request a re-examination of your
case under its review procedure. How to do this is set out in the attached
Appeals Notice.  Having followed the full procedure, if you are still
dissatisfied, then you have the right to direct your comments to the
Information Commissioner who will give your case consideration.

 

Thank you for your interest in Surrey Police. Should you have any further
enquiries concerning this matter, please write or contact us on 01483 -
630007 quoting the reference number above.

 

Yours sincerely
                                                                                                    

Neil Coventry

Information Access Team Decision Maker

Information Access Team

Surrey Police

Tel - 101

•         Hunt Number 30007

•         Fax 01483 634911

•         Address – Surrey Police, PO Box 101, Guildford, GU1 9PE

 

The Surrey Police Privacy Notice including your personal data rights is
available on the Surrey Police website or on this link: 

[3]https://www.surrey.police.uk/about-us/yo...

 

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.sussex.police.uk/SysSiteAsse...
2. https://www.npcc.police.uk/COVID%2019/Op...
3. https://www.surrey.police.uk/about-us/yo...