Marked Vehicle Fleet List 2013

[Name Removed] made this Freedom of Information request to Essex Police This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was partially successful.

Dear Essex Police,

Could you provide your marked vehicle fleet list, up to date for October 2013.

Please include the following fields in your data:

- Fleet Number
- Registration
- Make
- Class
- Division
- Operator
- Location
- Role
- Livery

The following link should serve as an example of the data I am seeking:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/1...

Yours faithfully,

[Name Removed]

1 Attachment

Thank you for your enquiry which has been logged under the above reference.
Under the Freedom of Information Act we are required to reply within 20 working days but given the current very high number of requests being received this may not be possible.

We will reply as soon as possible and please accept our apologies for the inconvenience any delay may cause.

Kerry Nicholson
Information Officer
Strategic Change Management Department
Essex Police HQ
Internal extension 150025
Direct Dial 01245 452647
Essex Police Non emergency Telephone Number (within Essex) 101 (Outside Essex) 0300 333 4444
Fax: Internal 150045 External 01245 452256
Website: www.essex.police.uk
Information Management, Strategic Change Management Department, Essex Police Headquarters, PO Box 2, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 6DA

________________________________________
From: [Name Removed] [[FOI #180465 email]]
Sent: 09 October 2013 17:45
To: FOI
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Marked Vehicle Fleet List 2013

Dear Essex Police,

Could you provide your marked vehicle fleet list, up to date for October 2013.

Please include the following fields in your data:

- Fleet Number
- Registration
- Make
- Class
- Division
- Operator
- Location
- Role
- Livery

The following link should serve as an example of the data I am seeking:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/1...

Yours faithfully,

[Name Removed]

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[FOI #180465 email]

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Steve Grayton,

2 Attachments

Thank you for your enquiries which has been logged under the above
references.

 

The Freedom of Information Act fees regulations impose a limit on the
amount of effort in terms of time and resources that a public authority is
expected to invest in responding to a single request. It also provides for
the aggregation of costs in relation to requests that concern essentially
the same subject matter, or where it is felt that persons may be acting in
concert to avoid the fees limit.

 

Please see the following link

[1]http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/...

where page 6 says:

 

Aggregation of costs

 

The Fees Regulations state that two or more requests to one public
authority can be aggregated for the purposes of calculating costs if they
are:

• by one person, or by different persons who appear to the public
authority to be acting in concert or in pursuance of a campaign;

• for the same or similar information; and

• the subsequent request is received by the public authority within 60
working days of the previous request.

 

The intention of this provision is to prevent individuals or organisations
evading the appropriate limit by dividing a request into smaller parts.

 

As both your requests relate to Essex Police’s vehicle fleet I have
aggregated the two for cost purposes and will respond on both below.

 

Having completed my enquiries I am able to respond as follows:

 

Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) places two duties
on public authorities. Unless exemptions apply, the first duty at
Sec1(1)(a) is to confirm or deny whether the information specified in a
request is held. The second duty at Sec1(1)(b) is to disclose information
that has been confirmed as being held. Where exemptions are relied upon
s17 of FOIA requires that we provide the applicant with a notice which: a)
states that fact b) specifies the exemption(s) in question and c) states
(if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

 

In respect of your enquiries, Essex Police does hold the information
requested.

 

1^st request, our ref. 5505:

 

Could you provide your marked vehicle fleet list, up to date for October
2013.

Please include the following fields in your data:

- Fleet Number
- Registration
- Make
- Class
- Division
- Operator
- Location
- Role
- Livery

and

 

2^nd request our ref. 5507:

 

Could you provide your unmarked vehicle fleet list, up to date for October
2013.

Please include the following fields in your data:

- Fleet Number
- Registration
- Make
- Class
- Division
- Operator
- Location
- Role
- Livery

The attached chart lists all the current marked police vehicles including
the VRM, make and model of each vehicle. All of the other information that
you have requested is exempt from release under the Freedom of Information
Act by virtue of Section 31(1)(a) and 31(1)(b).

Section 31 creates an exemption from the right to disclose information if
releasing it would be likely to cause harm to the functions of a public
authority. Below I have included the wording of the relevant legislation:

Section 31- Law Enforcement
(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 or detection of crime
(b) the apprehension or prosecution of offenders

Section 31 is a ‘qualified’ exemption. Qualified exemptions contained
within the Freedom of Information Act 2000 are subject to the application
of a public interest test, as such, for information to be exempt from
release the balance between the public interest in maintaining the
exemption must be greater than the public interest in disclosing it.

The provision of information regarding those vehicles with a roof code,
and the use of each vehicle, would highlight the team or unit which
primarily uses the vehicle, this would prejudice the prevention of crime
since it would reveal levels of tactical deployment providing an advantage
to those intent on causing harm by enabling them to establish the number
and type of vehicles (for example armed response) available. It would also
enable such vehicles to be targeted by those intent on causing harm, which
would have a negative impact on the ability of the police to respond to
incidents. The provision of such detailed information about each
individual vehicle would also increase the possibility of a vehicle being
‘cloned’.

 

Public Interest Test

 

Factors Favouring Disclosure

 

The disclosure of the information requested would serve to ensure that
Essex Police remains open and accountable and would reassure the public
that in a time of financial challenges there are still suitable vehicles
being purchased to support policing across the county. The disclosure of
information would also provide a better understanding of how public funds
are spent and may contribute to public debate around the use of specific
makes and model of vehicle over other makes and model of vehicle.

 

It would serve to reassure the public that a sufficient number of vehicles
are allocated to individual specialist teams to enable them to deal
effectively with incidents which require specialist equipment such as
firearms.

 

Factors Favouring Non-Disclosure

 

The disclosure of the information requested would highlight which vehicles
may also be used for covert operations, in which case the release of the
make and model (particularly where this may be unusual), may highlight to
a suspected individual that there is an increased likelihood the vehicle
is owned by Essex Police; this would compromise law enforcement tactics.

 

The disclosure of the roof code and use of each vehicle would reveal
tactical capabilities of the force. The more information that is released
about each individual vehicle the greater the likelihood is that a vehicle
will be realistically cloned by an individual or group and used to commit
crime or evade detection. The provision of the information would also
enable members of the criminal fraternity to map vehicle resources
generally across the county and target or avoid specific vehicles. The
information would provide a tactical advantage to offenders and would
negatively impact on public safety which is of paramount importance to the
policing purpose.

 

Balancing Test

 

Although the release of the information, especially in these times of
financial challenge, may contribute to useful public debate surrounding
the expenditure Essex Police is making on particular vehicles, disclosure
is likely to hinder the prevention and detection of crime and compromise
law enforcement tactics by highlighting to the criminal fraternity
particular vehicle capabilities the force may have. This information would
allow for such individuals to be more aware of what is likely to be a
police vehicle and therefore support such individuals in avoiding being
apprehended, consequently public safety may be compromised.

 

After considering all of the factors I believe that the harm
considerations and the importance of the factors favouring maintaining the
exemption outweigh the public interest in disclosure.

 

I hope the information I have been able to provide is of use.

 

Steve Grayton
Information Officer
Data Protection & Freedom of Information
Information Management
Strategic Change Management Department
Essex Police Headquarters
PO Box 2, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 6DA

 

Internal extension 150029
External Dial 101 then ext.150029
Data Protection / FOI Team direct dial: 01245 452647
Fax: 01245 452256 Internal 150045
Email : [2][Essex Police request email]
Personal email: [3][email address]
Website: [4]www.essex.police.uk

Working hours Mon-Thurs 7:30 – 15:30, Fri 7:30 – 15:00
Office opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 - 16:00

 

 

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your FOI request, you have
the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should
be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to
your original request and should be addressed to the Senior Information
Officer at the above address.

 

If your complaint refers to a decision to apply an exemption it would
assist the review if you would outline the reasons why you feel the
exemption does not apply.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information
Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9
5AF
________________________________________
From: data foi
Sent: 14 October 2013 16:44
To: [Name Removed]
Subject: RE: FOI Request Our Ref.5505 Market fleet List Oct 2013

Thank you for your enquiry which has been logged under the above
reference.
Under the Freedom of Information Act we are required to reply within 20
working days but given the current very high number of requests being
received this may not be possible.

We will reply as soon as possible and please accept our apologies for the
inconvenience any delay may cause.

Kerry Nicholson
Information Officer
Strategic Change Management Department
Essex Police HQ
Internal extension 150025
Direct Dial 01245 452647
Essex Police Non emergency Telephone Number (within Essex) 101 (Outside
Essex) 0300 333 4444
Fax: Internal 150045 External 01245 452256
Website: [5]www.essex.police.uk
Information Management, Strategic Change Management Department, Essex
Police Headquarters, PO Box 2, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 6DA

________________________________________
From: [Name Removed] [[FOI #180465 email]]
Sent: 09 October 2013 17:45
To: FOI
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Marked Vehicle Fleet List 2013

Dear Essex Police,

Could you provide your marked vehicle fleet list, up to date for October
2013.

Please include the following fields in your data:

- Fleet Number
- Registration
- Make
- Class
- Division
- Operator
- Location
- Role
- Livery

The following link should serve as an example of the data I am seeking:

[6]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/1...

Yours faithfully,

[Name Removed]

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[7][FOI #180465 email]

Is [8][email address] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Essex Police? If so, please contact us using this form:
[9]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/cont...

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

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

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

References

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