images

The request was partially successful.

Evidence Gathering Teams frequently take head and shoulder shots of individual protesters during demonstrations. One of the recent examples of this was on Lambeth bridge on October 9th, during the recent demonstrations by UK uncut. On this occasion individuals were photographed individually prior to them being able to exit police containment. This question concerns only those photographs taken of specific individuals, whether identified by name or not.

To comply with the ruling in Wood, images that are not required for intelligence or evidence purposes are destroyed. Please can you provide figures for the number of images destroyed after each of the following demonstrations:

Student demonstration on 24th November 2010
Student demonstration on 9th December 2010
TUC and other demonstrations on 26th March 2011
Protest March on 30th June 2011
Demonstrations on Westminster and Lambeth bridges on 9th October 2011

Where there is an evidential or an intelligence need, images may be retained. Please provide the numbers of images retained on each of the above demonstrations:
a) for the purposes of evidence, that is for the purpose of taking criminal procedings against the individual concerned, or where civil actions or complaints have been lodged.
b) for intelligence purposes, that is where there is no requirement to retain the images for the purpose of current criminal or civil proceedings.

In both cases can you clarify whether the images are being held on the police national database, or some other information management system.

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms Swain

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2011100004129
I write in connection with your request for information  which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 26/10/2011.  I note
you seek access to the following information:

"Evidence Gathering Teams frequently take head and shoulder shots of
 individual protesters during demonstrations. One of the recent  examples
of this was on Lambeth bridge on October 9th, during the recent
demonstrations by UK uncut. On this occasion individuals     were
photographed individually prior to them being able to exit     police
containment. This question concerns only those photographs     taken of
specific individuals, whether identified by name or not.  To comply with
the ruling in Wood, images that are not required for intelligence or
evidence purposes are destroyed. Please can you  provide figures for the
number of images destroyed after each of the following demonstrations:

Student demonstration on 24th November 2010

 Student demonstration on 9th December 2010  

 TUC and other demonstrations on 26th March 2011

 Protest March on 30th June 2011

Demonstrations on Westminster and Lambeth bridges on 9th October 2011  

Where there is an evidential or an intelligence need, images may be  
retained. Please provide the numbers of images retained on each of     the
above demonstrations:

 a) for the purposes of evidence, that is for the purpose of taking
criminal procedings against the individual concerned, or where civil
actions or complaints have been lodged.

b) for intelligence purposes, that is where there is no requirement  to
retain the images for the purpose of current criminal or civil    
proceedings.    

In both cases can you clarify whether the images are being held on  the
police national database, or some other information management 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, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party.  In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to achieve this
deadline.  If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

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

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact FOIA Team on telephone number 02071613640 quoting the reference
number above.

Yours sincerely

P Deja
Policy and Support Officer
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
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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 –

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telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your decision
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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
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Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
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FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
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.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
 Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 700

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
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the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
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email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
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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).

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms Swain

Freedom of Information Request Reference No:  2011100004129

I write in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 26/10/2011.  I note
you seek access to the following information:

**        Evidence Gathering Teams frequently take head and shoulder shots
of  individual protesters during demonstrations. One of the recent
 examples of this was on Lambeth bridge on October 9th, during the recent
demonstrations by UK uncut. On this occasion individuals were photographed
individually prior to them being able to exit police containment. This
question concerns only those photographs taken of specific individuals,
whether identified by name or not. To comply with the ruling in Wood,
images that are not required for intelligence or evidence purposes are
destroyed.

Please can you  provide figures for the number of images destroyed after
each of the following demonstrations:  Student demonstration on 24th
November 2010 Student demonstration on 9th December 2010  TUC and other
demonstrations on 26th March 2011  Protest March on 30th June 2011    
Demonstrations on Westminster and Lambeth bridges on 9th October 2011
Where there is an evidential or an intelligence need, images may be
retained. Please provide the numbers of images retained on each of the
above demonstrations:  

 a) for the purposes of evidence, that is for the purpose of taking
criminal proceedings against the individual concerned, or where     civil
actions or complaints have been lodged.    
 b) for intelligence purposes, that is where there is no requirement to
retain the images for the purpose of current criminal or civil    
proceedings.      
 In both cases can you clarify whether the images are being held on    
the police national database, or some other information management system.

EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
at Public Order and Operational Support

24th November 2010 Student demonstration
9th December 2010  Student demonstration
26th March 2011 TUC
Protest March on 30th June 2011

None of the photographs taken have been added to any database as all
photographers were passed over to be used by the post event team to
identify individuals engaged in criminal activity, all of the original
copies are held by SCD4 The Photographic Unit who will retain them for a
period of 7 years.

 Demonstrations on Westminster and Lambeth bridges on 9th October 2011
 In relation to the 9th October 2011 the Demonstration on Westminster
Bridge there were 92 images taken. These images are currently in the
process of being reviewed. They are securely stored on CD discs and are
not on any database. Once they are reviewed any images that are required
for intelligence or evidence will be kept and the rest destroyed, to
comply with the ruling in Wood v MPS
Please feel free to contact us again in 2 months time when we will be in a
better position to assist you as to how many have been destroyed.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

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

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Alex Norrie on telephone number 0207 230 3153 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Alex Norrie
Information Manager
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, 1st Floor (Victoria Block), New Scotland Yard, Victoria, London,
SW1H 0BG.
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.  

Ask to have the decision looked at again ***

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is to
telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your decision
letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues and
assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
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.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
 Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 700

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).