Gangs Matrix - latest figures and criteria

The request was partially successful.

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

I’m conducting research on the Gangs Matrix and would like to request some information, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. Where you are only able to answer this request in part, I would be grateful if you could do so rather than rejecting the entire request.

Please may you provide answers to the following:

Gangs Matrix statistics -
1. The current up-to-date figures for the total number of people on the Gangs Matrix.
2. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have been convicted of at least one of the following offenses: Knife crime; Knife Injury; Gun Crime; Gun Discharge; Serious Youth Violence; Knife Crime With Injury 1-24 non DA.
3. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have never had a conviction for any offense.
4. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have not had a conviction in the past five years.
5. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix with a zero harm score.

Harm scoring -
6. Please provide information about the criteria used to determine an individual's 'harm score' on the Gangs Matrix.

Automation -
7. In 2014, the MPS and Accenture publicly announced a pilot program to develop an analytics solution that would designate an automated 'harm score' to individuals on the Matrix by way of developing an algorithm: https://newsroom.accenture.com/industrie...
Is the MPS using any kind of automated analytics system or algorithm to automate the process of predicting risk/offending for individuals on any of the following databases:
- The MPS Trident Matrix
- The OCGM (organized crime group mapping) database
- GRITS (gang related incident tracking system)?

If you require any further information to help you answer this request or wish me to clarify any of the above questions, please do not hesitate to contact me through this service.

Many thanks.

Yours faithfully,

A Bacciarelli

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear A Bacciarelli

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2017090000700

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 20/09/2017.  I note you seek
access to the following information:

* I’m conducting research on the Gangs Matrix and would like to request
some information, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
Where you are only able to answer this request in part, I would be
grateful if you could do so rather than rejecting the entire request.
Please may you provide answers to the following: Gangs Matrix
statistics - 1. The current up-to-date figures for the total number of
people on the Gangs Matrix. 2. The total number of people on the Gangs
Matrix who have been convicted of at least one of the following
offenses: Knife crime; Knife Injury; Gun Crime; Gun Discharge; Serious
Youth Violence; Knife Crime With Injury 1-24 non DA. 3. The total
number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have never had a conviction
for any offense. 4. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who
have not had a conviction in the past five years. 5. The total number
of people on the Gangs Matrix with a zero harm score. Harm scoring -
6. Please provide information about the criteria used to determine an
individual's 'harm score' on the Gangs Matrix. Automation - 7. In
2014, the MPS and Accenture publicly announced a pilot program to
develop an analytics solution that would designate an automated 'harm
score' to individuals on the Matrix by way of developing an algorithm:
https://newsroom.accenture.com/industrie...
Is the MPS using any kind of automated analytics system or algorithm
to automate the process of predicting risk/offending for individuals
on any of the following databases: - The MPS Trident Matrix - The OCGM
(organized crime group mapping) database - GRITS (gang related
incident tracking system)? If you require any further information to
help you answer this request or wish me to clarify any of the above
questions, please do not hesitate to contact me through this service.

This is to inform you that the MPS are unable to proceed with your request
as we require further information from you.  

PLEASE NOTE - In regard your request, please see the following;  ( where
you have put - example -  "in past 5 years,"

  We need to know whether you want calendar years, financial years or
would like to specify other start and end times.  Also  if you  want it to
be broken down by month or presented in whole years.

Also - on your request - you have asked for convictions - please see the
below;

Your request asks for the number of individuals convicted, please note
that the police service is responsible for the investigation of offences
however the subsequent prosecution - and potentially a conviction - would
be a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.  

As the MPS are not the prosecuting authority we do not have any dedicated
systems to record this information.  Potentially information on
convictions may be held in paper records or in MPS systems however we
would be unlikely to be able to retrieve such information within the cost
limit.  Instead of convictions the MPS records the number of individual's
who are proceeded against, this is known as PPA (People Proceeded
Against).  This PPA information is recorded on our systems and can be
obtained from them.  

Would you like us substitute the convictions aspect of your request with
PPA data?

After receiving your reply, your request will then be considered and you
will receive a response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days.

However, if the requested additional information has not been received by
19 October 2017I will assume you no longer wish to proceed with this
request and will treat it as withdrawn.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me on [..........]  or via email at [email address], quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Deja
Support Officer - Freedom of Information Triage Team
 
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 to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

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, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Information Rights Unit
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 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.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, write to or
phone:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 0303 123 1113

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk

Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Dear Peter Deja,

Re. FOI request 2017090000700

Many thanks for your response. Following your feedback, I have reframed the questions and would appreciate if the MPS could consider the revised Freedom of Information request below.

1. The current up-to-date figures for the total number of people on the Gangs Matrix.
2. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have had proceedings against them (PPA data) for at least one of the following offenses: Knife crime; Knife Injury; Gun Crime; Gun Discharge; Serious Youth Violence; Knife Crime With Injury 1-24 non DA.
3. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have had no proceedings against them (no PPA data on them).
4. The total number of people who have had proceedings against them (PPA data).
5. The total number of people currently listed on the Gangs Matrix who have not had proceedings against them since 1 September 2012 (any PPA data held is in relation to proceedings before 1 September 2012).
6. The total number of people currently held on the Gangs Matrix with a zero harm score.
7. Please provide information about the criteria used to determine an individual's 'harm score' on the Gangs Matrix.
8. In 2014, the MPS and Accenture publicly announced a pilot program to develop an analytics solution that would designate an automated 'harm score' to individuals on the Matrix by way of developing an algorithm: https://newsroom.accenture.com/industrie...
Is the MPS using any kind of automated analytics system or algorithm to automate the process of predicting risk/offending for individuals on any of the following databases:
- The MPS Trident Matrix
- The OCGM (organized crime group mapping) database
- GRITS (gang related incident tracking system)?

Where you are only able to answer this request in part, I would appreciate if you could do so rather than rejecting the entire request outright.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need further clarification.

Many thanks and best wishes,

A Bacciarelli

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Bacciarelli

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2017090000700

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 20/09/2017.  I note you seek
access to the following information:

* I’m conducting research on the Gangs Matrix and would like to request
some information, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
Where you are only able to answer this request in part, I would be
grateful if you could do so rather than rejecting the entire request.
Please may you provide answers to the following: Gangs Matrix
statistics - 1. The current up-to-date figures for the total number of
people on the Gangs Matrix. 2. The total number of people on the Gangs
Matrix who have been convicted of at least one of the following
offenses: Knife crime; Knife Injury; Gun Crime; Gun Discharge; Serious
Youth Violence; Knife Crime With Injury 1-24 non DA. 3. The total
number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have never had a conviction
for any offense. 4. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who
have not had a conviction in the past five years. 5. The total number
of people on the Gangs Matrix with a zero harm score. Harm scoring -
6. Please provide information about the criteria used to determine an
individual's 'harm score' on the Gangs Matrix. Automation - 7. In
2014, the MPS and Accenture publicly announced a pilot program to
develop an analytics solution that would designate an automated 'harm
score' to individuals on the Matrix by way of developing an algorithm:
https://newsroom.accenture.com/industrie...
Is the MPS using any kind of automated analytics system or algorithm
to automate the process of predicting risk/offending for individuals
on any of the following databases: - The MPS Trident Matrix - The OCGM
(organized crime group mapping) database - GRITS (gang related
incident tracking system)? If you require any further information to
help you answer this request or wish me to clarify any of the above
questions, please do not hesitate to contact me through this service.


* REDEF receieved;
* Many thanks for your response. Following your feedback, I have
reframed the questions and would appreciate if the MPS could consider
the revised Freedom of Information request below.

* 1. The current up-to-date figures for the total number of people on
the Gangs Matrix. 2. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix
who have had proceedings against them (PPA data) for at least one of
the following offenses: Knife crime; Knife Injury; Gun Crime; Gun
Discharge; Serious Youth Violence; Knife Crime With Injury 1-24 non
DA. 3. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have had no
proceedings against them (no PPA data on them). 4. The total number of
people who have had proceedings against them (PPA data). 5. The total
number of people currently listed on the Gangs Matrix who have not had
proceedings against them since 1 September 2012 (any PPA data held is
in relation to proceedings before 1 September 2012). 6. The total
number of people currently held on the Gangs Matrix with a zero harm
score. 7. Please provide information about the criteria used to
determine an individual's 'harm score' on the Gangs Matrix. 8. In
2014, the MPS and Accenture publicly announced a pilot program to
develop an analytics solution that would designate an automated 'harm
score' to individuals on the Matrix by way of developing an algorithm:
https://newsroom.accenture.com/industrie...
service-and-accenture-complete-analytics-pilot-program-to-fight-gang-crime.htm
Is the MPS using any kind of automated analytics system or algorithm
to automate the process of predicting risk/offending for individuals
on any of the following databases: - The MPS Trident Matrix - The OCGM
(organized crime group mapping) database - GRITS (gang related
incident tracking system)? Where you are only able to answer this
request in part, I would appreciate if you could do so rather than
rejecting the entire request outright. Please don’t hesitate to
contact me if you need further clarification.

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.  

If you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please contact
us at [email address] or on the phone at 0207 161 3500, quoting the
reference number above. Should your enquiry relate to the logging or
allocations process we will be able to assist you directly and where your
enquiry relates to other matters (such as the status of the request) we
will be able to pass on a message and/or advise you of the relevant
contact details.

Yours sincerely

Peter Deja
Support Officer - Freedom of Information Triage Team
 
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 to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

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, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Information Rights Unit
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 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.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, write to or
phone:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 0303 123 1113

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk

Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Bacciarelli

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2017090000700

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 20/09/2017.  I note you seek
access to the following information:

“I’m conducting research on the Gangs Matrix and would like to request
some information, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. Where
you are only able to answer this request in part, I would be grateful if
you could do so rather than rejecting the entire request.

Please may you provide answers to the following:

Gangs Matrix statistics -

1. The current up-to-date figures for the total number of people on the
Gangs Matrix.

2. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have been convicted
of at least one of the following offenses: Knife crime; Knife Injury; Gun
Crime; Gun Discharge; Serious Youth Violence; Knife Crime With Injury 1-24
non DA.

3. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have never had a
conviction for any offense.

4. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have not had a
conviction in the past five years.

5. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix with a zero harm score.

Harm scoring -

6. Please provide information about the criteria used to determine an
individual's 'harm score' on the Gangs Matrix.

Automation -

7. In 2014, the MPS and Accenture publicly announced a pilot program to
develop an analytics solution that would designate an automated 'harm
score' to individuals on the Matrix by way of developing an algorithm:
https://newsroom.accenture.com/industrie...

Is the MPS using any kind of automated analytics system or algorithm to
automate the process of predicting risk/offending for individuals on any
of the following databases:

- The MPS Trident Matrix

- The OCGM (organized crime group mapping) database

- GRITS (gang related incident tracking system)?

If you require any further information to help you answer this request or
wish me to clarify any of the above questions, please do not hesitate to
contact me through this service.

Re-Def received;

Many thanks for your response. Following your feedback, I have reframed
the questions and would appreciate if the MPS could consider the revised
Freedom of Information request below.

1. The current up-to-date figures for the total number of people on the
Gangs Matrix.

2. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have had proceedings
against them (PPA data) for at least one of the following offenses: Knife
crime; Knife Injury; Gun Crime; Gun Discharge; Serious

Youth Violence; Knife Crime With Injury 1-24 non DA.

3. The total number of people on the Gangs Matrix who have had no
proceedings against them (no PPA data on them).

4. The total number of people who have had proceedings against them (PPA
data).

5. The total number of people currently listed on the Gangs Matrix who
have not had proceedings against them since 1 September 2012 (any PPA data
held is in relation to proceedings before 1 September 2012).

6. The total number of people currently held on the Gangs Matrix with a
zero harm score.

7. Please provide information about the criteria used to determine an
individual's 'harm score' on the

Gangs Matrix.

8. In 2014, the MPS and Accenture publicly announced a pilot program to
develop an analytics solution that would designate an automated 'harm
score' to individuals on the Matrix by way of developing an algorithm:
https://newsroom.accenture.com/industrie...

Is the MPS using any kind of automated analytics system or algorithm to
automate the process of predicting risk/offending for individuals on any
of the following databases:

- The MPS Trident Matrix

- The OCGM (organized crime group mapping) database

- GRITS (gang related incident tracking system)?

Where you are only able to answer this request in part, I would appreciate
if you could do so rather than rejecting the entire request outright.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need further clarification.

DECISION

This letter is to inform you that it will not be possible to respond to
your request within the cost threshold.  This response serves as a Refusal
Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act).
 Please see the legal annex for further information on the exemptions
applied in respect of your request.

REASONS FOR DECISION

I have been informed that to answer questions 2-5 would exceed the cost
threshold. This information would be recorded on Police National Computer
(PNC). To extract information for questions 2-5 would require looking
through thousands of PNC records. It has been estimated that as many
people that are on Matrix system would need to be looked at. This is in
the region of 4,000 records. Roughly it would take ten minutes to look
through one record and therefore to look through the remaining records
would take in excess of 600 hours. It is this search that exceeds the cost
threshold.

We therefore 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.

I would like to provide you with advice as to how you may narrow your
request so that it does not exceed the appropriate limit.

Would you like to narrow your request to questions 1, 6, 7 and 8? Please
note that question questions 6 and 7 may be subject to exemptions so it
may be likely to be made exempt.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Audeeba Ali
Freedom of Information Manager

LEGAL ANNEX

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(1)&(2) of the Act provides:

(1) Section 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.

(2) Subsection (1) does not exempt the public authority from its
obligation to comply with paragraph (a) of section 1(1) unless the
estimated cost of complying with that paragraph alone would exceed the
appropriate limit.

Section 16 of the Act provides:

(1) It shall be the duty of a public authority to provide advice and
assistance, so far as it would be reasonable to expect the authority to do
so, to persons who propose to make, or have made, requests for information
to it.

(2) Any public authority which, in relation to the provision of advice or
assistance in any case, conforms with the code of practice under section
45 is to be taken to comply with the duty imposed by subsection (1) in
relation to that case.
 
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 to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

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, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Information Rights Unit
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 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.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, write to or
phone:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  0303 123 1113

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk

Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Dear Audeeba Ali,

Re. Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2017090000700

I can confirm that I would like you to go ahead and provide answers to the following questions:

1. The current up-to-date figures for the total number of people on the Gangs Matrix.
6. The total number of people currently held on the Gangs Matrix with a zero harm score.
7. Please provide information about the criteria used to determine an individual's 'harm score' on the Gangs Matrix.
8. In 2014, the MPS and Accenture publicly announced a pilot program to develop an analytics solution that would designate an automated 'harm score' to individuals on the Matrix by way of developing an algorithm: https://newsroom.accenture.com/industrie...
Is the MPS using any kind of automated analytics system or algorithm to automate the process of predicting risk/offending for individuals on any of the following databases:
- The MPS Trident Matrix
- The OCGM (organized crime group mapping) database
- GRITS (gang related incident tracking system)?

Many thanks,

A Bacciarelli

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr/Ms Bacciarelli

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2017100000241

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 06/10/2017.  I note you seek
access to the following information:

* 2017090000700 - I can confirm that I would like you to go ahead and
provide answers to the following questions: 1. The current up-to-date
figures for the total number of people on the Gangs Matrix. 6. The
total number of people currently held on the Gangs Matrix with a zero
harm score. 7. Please provide information about the criteria used to
determine an individual's 'harm score' on the Gangs Matrix. 8. In
2014, the MPS and Accenture publicly announced a pilot program to
develop an analytics solution that would designate an automated 'harm
score' to individuals on the Matrix by way of developing an algorithm:
https://newsroom.accenture.com/industrie... Is the MPS using any kind
of automated analytics system or algorithm to automate the process of
predicting risk/offending for individuals on any of the following
databases: - The MPS Trident Matrix - The OCGM (organized crime group
mapping) database - GRITS (gang related incident tracking system)?

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.  

If you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please contact
us at [email address] or on the phone at 0207 161 3500, quoting the
reference number above. Should your enquiry relate to the logging or
allocations process we will be able to assist you directly and where your
enquiry relates to other matters (such as the status of the request) we
will be able to pass on a message and/or advise you of the relevant
contact details.

Yours sincerely

Peter Deja
Support Officer - Freedom of Information Triage Team
 
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 to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

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, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Information Rights Unit
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 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.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, write to or
phone:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 0303 123 1113

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copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

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Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Bacciarelli

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2017100000241

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 06/10/2017.  I note you seek
access to the following information:

2017090000700 - I can confirm that I would like you to go ahead and
provide answers to the following questions:

1. The current up-to-date figures for the total number of people on the
Gangs Matrix.

6. The total number of people currently held on the Gangs Matrix with a
zero harm score.

7. Please provide information about the criteria used to determine an
individual's 'harm score' on the Gangs Matrix.

8. In 2014, the MPS and Accenture publicly announced a pilot program to
develop an analytics solution that would designate an automated 'harm
score' to individuals on the Matrix by way of developing an algorithm:
https://newsroom.accenture.com/industrie...

Is the MPS using any kind of automated analytics system or algorithm to
automate the process of predicting risk/offending for individuals on any
of the following databases:

- The MPS Trident Matrix

- The OCGM (organized crime group mapping) database

- GRITS (gang related incident tracking system)?

DECISION

Question One: The current up-to-date figures for the total number of
people on the Gangs Matrix.

As of 09/10/2017 there were 3,712 number of people on the Gangs Matrix.

Question 8: No algorithms are used.

Question 6 and 7:

Question 6 and 7 have been made exempt by virtue of s.31 of the Freedom of
Information Act, which governs law enforcement.

As s.31 of the FoIA is a prejudice-based and qualified exemption, I am
required to provide you with evidence of harm in releasing this
information and a Public Interest Test in order to determine the potential
harm that could be caused by disclosing the information requested.

Prejudice Test conducted under s.31 of the FoIA:

In considering whether or not I should release the information I have
considered the potential harm in the release of the documents. We will not
provide any information in relation to the scores or ratings on the
matrix. The matrix is an intelligence tool, the information on it is
therefore sensitive and cannot be shared.  

With specific reference to question 6, the information gathered is used
for intelligence purposes. And therefore, to provide this information
here, would suggest that we would be happy to disclose this for other
similar FOIA requests. To provide information in a piecemeal way would
release intelligence which would negatively impact on our intelligence and
operational capabilities.

With regards question 7, this kind of disclosure would allow individuals
to gain information on methodology used by the MPS and leave the MPS at an
operational disadvantage. The MPS would be placed at an operational
disadvantage because if released an individual with negative intent would
use this information to avoid being detected.

Although under the Freedom of Information Act we cannot, and do not,
request the motives of any applicant, we must consider that a disclosure
under FOIA is a disclosure to the world.  We must therefore always
consider the harm that could be caused to our law enforcement capabilities
and resources if we were to disclose information to individuals or a group
of individuals. Whereas we have no doubt the vast majority of applications
under the Act are legitimate and do not have any ulterior motives, we must
be open to the fact that FOIA requests are not private transactions and
any release of information, even in a piecemeal way, could most certainly
be used as gaining an enhanced knowledge of our operational capabilities.

Public Interest Test conducted under s.31 FoIA:

The underlying principles of the establishment of FoIA, are to create
transparency, allow public scrutiny and increasing public debate.
Furthermore, the FoIA requires public authorities to be held accountable
and transparent for their actions. Based upon this notion the public have
the right to know how that public authority conducts itself in their
business.

Whilst it is paramount to uphold the principles underpinned by the FoIA,
it is equally important to balance those considerations in maintaining the
exemption. Therefore, whilst I am of the opinion that the release of the
requested information would allow the MPS to remain transparent and
actively promote public discussion which is underpinned by FoIA, the
current or future law enforcement role of the MPS may be compromised by
the release of specific details of methodology.
To disclose the information you have requested into the public domain
could potentially assist an individual to evade detection which will be
detrimental to the MPS' ability to prevent and detect crime, and to
apprehend and prosecute offenders. Police resources and our law
enforcement role would likely to be negatively affected and manipulated by
those with criminal intent to obtain an unfair advantage over MPS
operational information. Upon this basis it will never be in the public
interest to compromise the MPS commitment to being efficient and effective
in our role as law enforcers.

After weighing up the competing interests I have determined that the
disclosure of the above information would not be in the public interest.
It would greatly contribute to the MPS' commitment to be an open and
transparent organisation.  However, in light of the arguments for
non-disclosure I consider this to be a stronger argument than the reasons
to disclose. I base this decision on the fact that the public interest is
not what interests the public, but is what would be of greater benefit if
released, to the community as a whole. And as such, I consider the release
of these documents would be detrimental our core functions as law
enforcers.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Audeeba Ali
Freedom of Information Manager

LEGAL ANNEX:
Section 17(1) of the Act provides:
(1)        A public authority which, in relation to any request for
information, is to any extent relying on a claim that any provision in
part II relating to the duty to confirm or deny is relevant to the request
or on a claim that information is exempt information must, within the time
for complying with section 1(1), give the applicant a notice which-
(a) states the fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question, and
(c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption
applies.
Section 31 (1)(a)(b) of the Act provides:
(1) Information which is not exempt information by virtue of section 30 is
exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be
likely to, prejudice;-
(a)        the prevention and detection of crime;
(b)        the apprehension or prosecution of offender;

In complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information, the
Metropolitan Police Service will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the
enclosed information will continue to be protected by law.  Applications
for the copyright owner's written permission to reproduce any part of the
attached information should be addressed to MPS Directorate of Legal
Services, 10 Lambs Conduit Street, London, WC1N 3NR.
 
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 to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

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, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Information Rights Unit
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 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.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, write to or
phone:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 0303 123 1113

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk

Twitter: @metpoliceuk