Gathering and use of personal information by Greater Manchester Police

The request was partially successful.

Dear Greater Manchester Police,

I refer to the article at
http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2011/01/31/ma... in particular the following

"Police seemed to prioritise getting protester's personal details with one man outside the kettle arrested simply for refusing to give his details and everyone inside the kettle being forced to submit to a search and give their name and address before being released."

This is clearly an attempt by Greater Manchester Police to intimidate people from taking part in political activities in the future.

Please assist me with my enquiries into this matter by answering the following questions

1) In order to comply with the Data Protection Act Greater Manchester Police must have a policy or policies relating to the gathering, protection, processing, retention, transmission to other organisations and destruction of this personal information. Please provide a copy of all the policies which refer to these aspects, or provide links to them.

2) Please provide the name of EVERY database into which information gathered from this demonstration has been entered, whether such databases are operated by Greater Manchester Police or by any other organisation, and the name of the organisation which runs every database. For the avoidance of doubt such entries may have been made by automatic means, such as automated data transfer or scanning, as well as by hand. My enquiry is not just with reference to people typing things in to a computer.

3) For each database please provide the following information

a) the names of the fields entered, this includes binary fields such as photograph. Such names should be provided in intelligible form, for example "address" not "field 6"
b) the number of records updated
c) the number of new records
All of the above information will be available with a simple query
d) the reason(s) for records to be entered/updated
e) the retention period
f) the number of records which were gathered at the demonstration but not entered into the database
g) the reason(s) for not entering a record

Please note that "replies" which involve attachments in proprietary file formats are not acceptable. A reply which is not in plain text format will be deemed to be a refusal to answer. It may be that some records cannot be provided in text form, for example the policies. In that case please contact me to arrange a suitable format.

Yours faithfully,

David Hansen

Greater Manchester Police

Dear Mr Hansen

I write in connection with your request for information dated 6th February
2011, which was received by Greater Manchester Police on 7th February
2011. I note you require access to the following information:

As per below email

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 Greater Manchester Police 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.
There may be a fee payable for the retrieval, collation and provision of
the information you request. If this is the case you will be informed and
the 20 working day timescale will be suspended until we receive payment
from you. If you choose not to make payment then your request will remain
unanswered.

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.
Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact The Information Access Team, on telephone number 0161 856 2529

Kind regards

Information Access Team

From: David Hansen <[FOI #61334 email]>
To: FOI requests at Greater Manchester Police
<[Greater Manchester Police request email]>
Date: 06/02/2011 11:25
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Gathering and use of personal
information by Greater Manchester Police

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Greater Manchester Police,

I refer to the article at

[1]http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2011/01/31/ma...
in particular the following

"Police seemed to prioritise getting protester's personal details
with one man outside the kettle arrested simply for refusing to
give his details and everyone inside the kettle being forced to
submit to a search and give their name and address before being
released."

This is clearly an attempt by Greater Manchester Police to
intimidate people from taking part in political activities in the
future.

Please assist me with my enquiries into this matter by answering
the following questions

1) In order to comply with the Data Protection Act Greater
Manchester Police must have a policy or policies relating to the
gathering, protection, processing, retention, transmission to other
organisations and destruction of this personal information. Please
provide a copy of all the policies which refer to these aspects, or
provide links to them.

2) Please provide the name of EVERY database into which information
gathered from this demonstration has been entered, whether such
databases are operated by Greater Manchester Police or by any other
organisation, and the name of the organisation which runs every
database. For the avoidance of doubt such entries may have been
made by automatic means, such as automated data transfer or
scanning, as well as by hand. My enquiry is not just with reference
to people typing things in to a computer.

3) For each database please provide the following information

a) the names of the fields entered, this includes binary fields
such as photograph. Such names should be provided in intelligible
form, for example "address" not "field 6"
b) the number of records updated
c) the number of new records
All of the above information will be available with a simple query
d) the reason(s) for records to be entered/updated
e) the retention period
f) the number of records which were gathered at the demonstration
but not entered into the database
g) the reason(s) for not entering a record

Please note that "replies" which involve attachments in proprietary
file formats are not acceptable. A reply which is not in plain text
format will be deemed to be a refusal to answer. It may be that
some records cannot be provided in text form, for example the
policies. In that case please contact me to arrange a suitable
format.

Yours faithfully,

David Hansen

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[2]http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #61334 email]

Is [Greater Manchester Police request email] the wrong address for Freedom
of Information requests to Greater Manchester Police? If so please
contact us using this form:
[3]http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/contact

If you find WhatDoTheyKnow useful as an FOI officer, please ask
your web manager to suggest us on your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

This e mail carries a disclaimer, a copy of which may be read at:

http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/...

References

Visible links
1. http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2011/01/31/ma...
2. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...
3. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/contact

Greater Manchester Police

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Hansen,

Please see attached document.

Regards

Caroline Barker
Information Access Officer
Information Governance
Greater Manchester Police
Internal: 62532
External: 0161 856 2532

From: David Hansen <[FOI #61334 email]>
To: FOI requests at Greater Manchester Police
<[Greater Manchester Police request email]>
Date: 06/02/2011 11:25
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Gathering and use of personal
information by Greater Manchester Police

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Greater Manchester Police,

I refer to the article at

[1]http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2011/01/31/ma...
in particular the following

"Police seemed to prioritise getting protester's personal details
with one man outside the kettle arrested simply for refusing to
give his details and everyone inside the kettle being forced to
submit to a search and give their name and address before being
released."

This is clearly an attempt by Greater Manchester Police to
intimidate people from taking part in political activities in the
future.

Please assist me with my enquiries into this matter by answering
the following questions

1) In order to comply with the Data Protection Act Greater
Manchester Police must have a policy or policies relating to the
gathering, protection, processing, retention, transmission to other
organisations and destruction of this personal information. Please
provide a copy of all the policies which refer to these aspects, or
provide links to them.

2) Please provide the name of EVERY database into which information
gathered from this demonstration has been entered, whether such
databases are operated by Greater Manchester Police or by any other
organisation, and the name of the organisation which runs every
database. For the avoidance of doubt such entries may have been
made by automatic means, such as automated data transfer or
scanning, as well as by hand. My enquiry is not just with reference
to people typing things in to a computer.

3) For each database please provide the following information

a) the names of the fields entered, this includes binary fields
such as photograph. Such names should be provided in intelligible
form, for example "address" not "field 6"
b) the number of records updated
c) the number of new records
All of the above information will be available with a simple query
d) the reason(s) for records to be entered/updated
e) the retention period
f) the number of records which were gathered at the demonstration
but not entered into the database
g) the reason(s) for not entering a record

Please note that "replies" which involve attachments in proprietary
file formats are not acceptable. A reply which is not in plain text
format will be deemed to be a refusal to answer. It may be that
some records cannot be provided in text form, for example the
policies. In that case please contact me to arrange a suitable
format.

Yours faithfully,

David Hansen

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[2]http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #61334 email]

Is [Greater Manchester Police request email] the wrong address for Freedom
of Information requests to Greater Manchester Police? If so please
contact us using this form:
[3]http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/contact

If you find WhatDoTheyKnow useful as an FOI officer, please ask
your web manager to suggest us on your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

This e mail carries a disclaimer, a copy of which may be read at:

http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/...

References

Visible links
1. http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2011/01/31/ma...
2. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...
3. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/contact

David Hansen left an annotation ()

Their reply. First the meat, then the whole reply.

=================================================

I regret to inform you that Greater Manchester Police have not been able to complete its response to your request by the date originally stated as Greater Manchester Police are considering the public interest test.

I now advise you that the amended date for a response is 21st March 2011, if not sooner. However, I can assure you that every effort will be made to ensure an appropriate response will be made within this new timescale.

=================================================

Information Governance Unit

Information Services Branch

Mr David Hansen

Our ref: W/CB/GSA534/11

When calling or telephoning

please ask for Caroline Barker

07th March 2011

Dear Mr Hansen,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 534/11

I write in connection with your request for information dated 06th February 2011, received by Greater Manchester Police. I note you seek access to the following information:-

I refer to the article at http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2011/01/31/ma... in particular the following

"Police seemed to prioritise getting protesters personal details with one man outside the kettle arrested simply for refusing to give his details and everyone inside the kettle being forced to submit to a search and give their name and address before being released."

This is clearly an attempt by Greater Manchester Police to intimidate people from taking part in political activities in the future.

Please assist me with my enquiries into this matter by answering the following questions;

1) In order to comply with the Data Protection Act Greater Manchester Police must have a policy or policies relating to the gathering, protection, processing, retention, transmission to other organisations and destruction of this personal information. Please provide a copy of all the policies, which refer to these aspects, or provide links to them.

2) Please provide the name of EVERY database into which information gathered from this demonstration has been entered, whether such databases are operated by Greater Manchester Police or by any other organisation, and the name of the organisation which runs every database. For the avoidance of doubt such entries may have been made by automatic means, such as automated data transfer or scanning, as well as by hand. My enquiry is not just with reference to people typing things in to a computer.

3) For each database please provide the following information

a) the names of the fields entered, this includes binary fields such as photograph. Such names should be provided in intelligible form, for example "address" not "field 6"

b) the number of records updated

c) the number of new records

All of the above information will be available with a simple query

d) the reason(s) for records to be entered/updated

e) the retention period

f) the number of records which were gathered at the demonstration but not entered into the database

g) the reason(s) for not entering a record

Please note that "replies" which involve attachments in proprietary file formats are not acceptable. A reply which is not in plain text format will be deemed to be a refusal to answer. It may be that some records cannot be provided in text form, for example the policies. In that case please contact me to arrange a suitable format.

I regret to inform you that Greater Manchester Police have not been able to complete its response to your request by the date originally stated as Greater Manchester Police are considering the public interest test.

I now advise you that the amended date for a response is 21st March 2011, if not sooner. However, I can assure you that every effort will be made to ensure an appropriate response will be made within this new timescale.

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

May I apologise for any inconvenience caused. Should you wish to discuss this matter please write or contact me on telephone number 0161-856-2529 quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Caroline Barker

Information Access 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 Greater Manchester Police 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 Greater Manchester Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding access to information, you can lodge a complaint with Greater Manchester Police to have the decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

Corporate Information Manager

Greater Manchester Police

Police Headquarters

Chester House

Boyer Street

Manchester

M16 0RE

The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with Greater Manchester Police if you are still dissatisfied with the decision you can make an 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 an 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

Corporate Performance Branch, Data Protection & Computer Audit Section, Police Headquarters,

8th Floor, Chester House, Boyer Street, Old Trafford, Manchester M16 0RE

Tel: 0161 856 2529, Fax: 0161 856 2534, Minicom: 0161 872 6633,

Email: [email address]

Information Services Branch, Information Governance Unit, Police Headquarters,

Chester House, Boyer Street, Old Trafford, Manchester M16 0RE

Tel: 0161 856 2529, Fax: 0161 856 2535, Minicom: 0161 872 6633,

Email:[Greater Manchester Police request email]

Greater Manchester Police

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Hansen,

Please see attached response relating to the below FOI request.

Regards

Caroline Barker
Information Access Officer
Information Governance
Greater Manchester Police
Internal: 62532
External: 0161 856 2532

From: David Hansen <[FOI #61334 email]>
To: FOI requests at Greater Manchester Police
<[Greater Manchester Police request email]>
Date: 06/02/2011 11:25
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Gathering and use of personal
information by Greater Manchester Police

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Greater Manchester Police,

I refer to the article at

[1]http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2011/01/31/ma...
in particular the following

"Police seemed to prioritise getting protester's personal details
with one man outside the kettle arrested simply for refusing to
give his details and everyone inside the kettle being forced to
submit to a search and give their name and address before being
released."

This is clearly an attempt by Greater Manchester Police to
intimidate people from taking part in political activities in the
future.

Please assist me with my enquiries into this matter by answering
the following questions

1) In order to comply with the Data Protection Act Greater
Manchester Police must have a policy or policies relating to the
gathering, protection, processing, retention, transmission to other
organisations and destruction of this personal information. Please
provide a copy of all the policies which refer to these aspects, or
provide links to them.

2) Please provide the name of EVERY database into which information
gathered from this demonstration has been entered, whether such
databases are operated by Greater Manchester Police or by any other
organisation, and the name of the organisation which runs every
database. For the avoidance of doubt such entries may have been
made by automatic means, such as automated data transfer or
scanning, as well as by hand. My enquiry is not just with reference
to people typing things in to a computer.

3) For each database please provide the following information

a) the names of the fields entered, this includes binary fields
such as photograph. Such names should be provided in intelligible
form, for example "address" not "field 6"
b) the number of records updated
c) the number of new records
All of the above information will be available with a simple query
d) the reason(s) for records to be entered/updated
e) the retention period
f) the number of records which were gathered at the demonstration
but not entered into the database
g) the reason(s) for not entering a record

Please note that "replies" which involve attachments in proprietary
file formats are not acceptable. A reply which is not in plain text
format will be deemed to be a refusal to answer. It may be that
some records cannot be provided in text form, for example the
policies. In that case please contact me to arrange a suitable
format.

Yours faithfully,

David Hansen

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[2]http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #61334 email]

Is [Greater Manchester Police request email] the wrong address for Freedom
of Information requests to Greater Manchester Police? If so please
contact us using this form:
[3]http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/contact

If you find WhatDoTheyKnow useful as an FOI officer, please ask
your web manager to suggest us on your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

This e mail carries a disclaimer, a copy of which may be read at:

http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/...

References

Visible links
1. http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2011/01/31/ma...
2. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offic...
3. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/contact

David Hansen left an annotation ()

Their reply indicates that they do have something to hide.

=======================================================

Dear Mr Hansen,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 534/11

I write in connection with your request for information received by GMP on the 06th February 2011. I note you seek access to the following information:

I refer to the article at;

http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2011/01/31/ma... in particular the following

"Police seemed to prioritise getting protesters personal details with one man outside the kettle arrested simply for refusing to give his details and everyone inside the kettle being forced to submit to a search and give their name and address before being released."

This is clearly an attempt by Greater Manchester Police to intimidate people from taking part in political activities in the future.

Please assist me with my enquiries into this matter by answering the following questions

1) In order to comply with the Data Protection Act Greater Manchester Police must have a policy or policies relating to the gathering, protection, processing, retention, transmission to other organisations and destruction of this personal information. Please provide a copy of all the policies, which refer to these aspects, or provide links to them.

2) Please provide the name of EVERY database into which information gathered from this demonstration has been entered, whether such databases are operated by Greater Manchester Police or by any other organisation, and the name of the organisation which runs every database. For the avoidance of doubt such entries may have been made by automatic means, such as automated data transfer or scanning, as well as by hand. My enquiry is not just with reference to people typing things in to a computer.

3) For each database please provide the following information

a) the names of the fields entered, this includes binary fields such as photograph. Such names should be provided in intelligible form, for example "address" not "field 6"

b) the number of records updated

c) the number of new records

All of the above information will be available with a simple query

d) the reason(s) for records to be entered/updated

e) the retention period

f) the number of records which were gathered at the demonstration but not entered into the database

g) the reason(s) for not entering a record

Please note that "replies" which involve attachments in proprietary file formats are not acceptable. A reply, which is not in plain text format, will be deemed to be a refusal to answer. It may be that some records cannot be provided in text form, for example the policies. In that case please contact me to arrange a suitable format.

Result Of Searches

Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within Greater Manchester Police to locate information relevant to your request. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by Greater Manchester Police.

Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act requires Greater Manchester Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you, the applicant, with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

Question 1, Greater Manchester Police adheres to the Data Protection Act 1998 in regards to obtaining, holding, using and disclosing of personal data for the purposes of the prevention and detection of crime and apprehending and prosecution of an offender. Greater Manchester Police has a summary document outlining the Data Protection Act 1998 and this can be found at the following website;

http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/0/3F66...

cc order 2007/44

Furthermore, Greater Manchester Police also adheres to the Management of Police Information (MOPI), which can be found at the following website;

http://www.npia.police.uk/en/15637.htm

Question 2, and 3a, information relating to these questions is exempted from disclosure under Section 31(1), which is a prejudiced based and qualified exemption and relates to Law Enforcement.

Harm in Disclosure

Protecting the safety of the public is of paramount importance to Greater Manchester Police and the prevention and detection of crime within our community. GMP use a variety of systems in assisting them in law enforcement and GMP would not publish this type of information into the public domain as to do so would potentially seriously undermine effective law enforcement in respect of every day policing within the Greater Manchester area. Furthermore, to confirm the name of databases and the type of fields entered would potentially lead to members of the public being reluctant to provide necessary information or assist the police with their enquiries.

Section 31

Factors in favour of disclosure

Disclosure of the type of databases and field will enable the public to have a better understanding of the efficiency and effectiveness of GMP and would confirm how GMP use and process information on their systems in working towards prevention and detection of crime and apprehending and prosecuting offenders.

Disclosure of information will assist individuals by raising awareness that GMP are using a variety of systems to prevent and detect crimes to make Greater Manchester a safer place.

Factors in maintaining the exemption

To disclose the requested information would hinder the prevention or detection of crime and the efficient and effective conduct of the force as GMP use a variety of systems in assisting them in law enforcement and to disclose the requested information would potentially undermine the effective law enforcement tactics used in every day policing within the Greater Manchester Policing area. Disclosure would likely prevent members of the public in not providing necessary information in assisting GMP with their enquiries.

Balancing Test

When balancing the public interest test Greater Manchester Police has to consider whether the information should be released into the public domain. Arguments need to be weighed against each other. The most persuasive reason for disclosing the information would be GMP's accountability. This needs to be weighed against the strongest reason for non-disclosure, which is, the Police Service is charged with enforcing the law; preventing and detecting crime and protecting the communities we serve. These roles are of paramount importance and the Police Service will not divulge information if to do so would have a significant impact on them in particular GMP's law enforcement tactics. Therefore, at this moment in time Greater Manchester Police will not disclose information that could hinder our ability to prevent and detect crime.

In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a Refusal Notice for this particular part of your request.

Question 3b, c, d, in regards to the said protest and as of the 20th February 2011 there were 5 new records and updates for the purposes of Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

Question 3e, the retention period of the information is in accordance with the Management of Police Information Act (MOPI), attached link has already been provided in regards to question 1 of your request.

Question 3f, g, as of 20th February 2011 there is approximately 145 Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 forms that require inputting and the delay in inputting these forms is that they require to be input manually by the division.

Complaint Rights

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

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write or contact me, on telephone number 0161 856 2529 quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Barker

Information Access 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 Greater Manchester Police 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 Greater Manchester Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding access to information, you can lodge a complaint with Greater Manchester Police to have the decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

Freedom of Information Officer

Greater Manchester Police

Police Headquarters

Chester House

Boyer Street

Manchester

M16 0RE

The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with Greater Manchester Police if you are still dissatisfied with the decision you can make an 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 an 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

Dear Greater Manchester Police,

"to disclose the requested information would potentially undermine the effective law enforcement tactics used in every day policing within the Greater Manchester Policing area. Disclosure would likely prevent members of the public in not providing necessary information in assisting GMP with their enquiries."

The names and fields of databases would undermine "law enforcement" tactics? Complete nonsense. You just don't want to be accountable to the public, who are your employers.

The names and fields of databases would prevent your employers providing "necessary" information? Nonsense on stilts. Your hiding of this information is more likely to make the public less likely to trust you with information. It is clear that "no commment" is the best option when one has no idea what the police will be doing with information they demand with menaces.

Thank you for the other information you did provide to your employers.

Yours faithfully,

David Hansen