Information Request from Ex BTP Officer 4775, Preston
Dear Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council,
as you have chosen to delay or ignore my formal request for information regarding Councillor Mahmood and now ex Councillor Rehman, I shall once again endeavour to make a request under the FOI Act 2000.
As you are aware, I was involved in an arrest of a personal friend of Councillor Mahmood who intervened on behalf of his friend (his words not mine) by contacting the BTP complaints department and the Local press.
As you are also aware, that once I was ordered to de arrest the male, a Mr Rehman who had continued to lie to me during a routine stop and account, and was in possession of a large quantity of bank notes that he also lied about, I contacted the immigration service. You are also now aware that this male was wanted for questioning by the immigration service (for reasons that I will not go into at this stage), as is his brother who is in this country illegally. Surly as a close friend of the family Councillor Mahmood was aware of this?
I was also informed by the immigration service, that Mr Rehmans brother had initially been refused entry into the UK from Pakistan but, was later granted a students visa on sponsorship by an uncle residing in Blackburn. The visa has long since expired and the Border Agency has no knowledge of this male leaving the country or ever attending the named college in London.
As you are also aware that this incident started a series of events that led to my enforced resignation whilst Councillor Mahmood hid behind the Racial Tensions banner that my force was so eager to highlight.
Under the FOI Act 2000, I wish to know:
1. What is the relationship between Councillor Mahmood and Mr Rehman.
2. Is Councillor Mahmood aware of that Mr Rehman was under investigation by the immigration service and the reason why.
3. Is Councillor Mahmood aware of the immigration status of Mr Rehmans brother and as a magistrate, felt that it was not appropriate to report him to the Border agency.
4. Is the now ex Councillor Rehman who served in the same ward as Councillor Mahmood, the uncle who sponsored Mr Rehmans brother into the country and did not report his immigration status once his visa had expired and clearly refused to leave the country?
Please bear in mind that I eventually found Mr Rehmans brothers Pakistani driving license in his car and an out of date motor insurance policy with both the Rehman brothers as named drivers.
I look forward to your response in the near future.
Yours faithfully,
John
Dear John,
Please note Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council have no record of
receiving a prior request for information 'regarding Councillor Mahmood
and now ex Councillor Rehman.'
Thankyou for your request for information. Your request was received on
22/06/2011 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and/or the Environmental Information Regulations
2004.
In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I
will let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be
required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.
If you have any queries about this email, please contact [Name of Council employee removed]
on telephone number 01254 585582. Alternatively, our email address is
[Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council request email].
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.
Kind regards,
[Name of Council employee removed]
Information Governance Officer
Information Technology, Management and Governance
G Floor, Tower Block
Blackburn Town Hall
Blackburn
BB1 7DY
Tel: 01254 58 5852
Email: [email address]
Dear Accesstoinformation,
As I thought.
I have been in contact with your CEO and your Legal department who informed me that an internal investigation with the information I replicated on here, was in full progress and was asked not to contact the Councillors.
Clearly that was not the case.
Thank you for your co operation in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
John
Dear John,
With regards to your complaint this is a separate matter being dealt
with by the Standards Committee which you were informed of by the Head
of Legal Services in an email dated the 2nd June 2011. With regards to
your Freedom of Information request; please see my response below.
1. What is the relationship between Councillor Mahmood and Mr Rehman.
2. Is Councillor Mahmood aware of that Mr Rehman was under investigation
by the immigration service and the reason why.
3. Is Councillor Mahmood aware of the immigration status of Mr Rehmans
brother and as a magistrate, felt that it was not appropriate to report
him to the Border agency.
4. Is the now ex Councillor Rehman who served in the same ward as
Councillor Mahmood, the uncle who sponsored Mr Rehmans brother into the
country and did not report his immigration status once his visa had
expired and clearly refused to leave the country?
This is not information that is held by Blackburn with Darwen Borough
Council. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 relates to recorded
information. Relationships unless recorded and knowledge of members is
not covered by the Act. If you have any queries regarding this request
then please don't hesitate to contact me.
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to
your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our
decision, you should write to:
Sarah Slater, Information Governance Manager, Information Governance,
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, G Floor, Town Hall, Blackburn,
Lancashire, BB1 7DY
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the
ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commissioner can be
contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Please find attached our 'have your say' feedback policy.
Regards,
[Name of Council employee removed]
Information Governance Officer
Information Technology, Management and Governance
G Floor, Tower Block
Blackburn Town Hall
Blackburn
BB1 7DY
Tel: 01254 58 5852
Email: [email address]
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