Op Sumaq Corporate Learning

The request was refused by Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

I understand that after the suspension of officers from the Enfield Crime squad under operation Sumaq the then SIO DCI Simon Rose (now D/Supt) carried out a number of briefings to senior MPS officers and home counties officers under the general term of 'corporate learning'

1. Please could I be supplied with a copy of the briefing notes that were handed out and any other documents that you have which supports the contents of these briefings.

As these briefings were considered to be corporate learning, I can not see how any of the content could be refused under any of the legal exemptions that the MPS can rely on.

I do not seek any information that is only known by DPS, just that which has now been given to numerous other police officers, not connected with the investigation.

2. Please could I be supplied with any part of the successful application form completed by DCI Simon Rose for the post of D/Supt that specifically relates to these briefings. Once again I do not seek any confidential information in to the investigation, just that, if any, which relates to the briefings.

Yours faithfully,

David Kneafsey

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Kneafsey

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010100004334
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 25/10/2010. I note you seek
access to the following information:

"I understand that after the suspension of officers from the Enfield Crime
squad under operation Sumaq the then SIO DCI Simon Rose (now D/Supt)
carried out a number of briefings to senior MPS officers and home counties
officers under the general term of 'corporate learning'

1. Please could I be supplied with a copy of the briefing notes that were
handed out and any other documents that you have which supports the
contents of these briefings. As these briefings were considered to be
corporate learning, I can not see how any of the content could be refused
under any of the legal exemptions that the MPS can rely on. I do not seek
any information that is only known by DPS, just that which has now been
given to numerous other police officers, not connected with the
investigation.
2. Please could I be supplied with any part of the successful application
form completed by DCI Simon Rose for the post of D/Supt that specifically
relates to these briefings. Once again I do not seek any confidential
information in to the investigation, just that, if any, which relates to
the briefings. "

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 Peter Deja on telephone number 0207 161 3640 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Peter 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
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

The Metropolitan Police Service is here for London - on the streets and in
your community, working with you to make our city 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). The MPS has a
strict staff conduct policy. Any email that causes you concern should be
reported via the Contacts section on the official MPS Website at
[1]www.met.police.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.met.police.uk/

Simon ROSE left an annotation ()

It would be interesting to know whether the briefings given by then DCI Rose included the corporate learning from the earlier 2 year 'disastrous' DPS operation codenamed Kayu, that destroyed three police officers lives and led to serious and organised criminals walking free from court or from the suicide of poor PC Tommy Payne who was again unfortunate enough to be targeted by this same unit leading directly to his suicide.

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Kneafsey,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010100004334

I write in response to your request for information that was received by
the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 25 October 2010. I note that you
seek access to the following information:

"I understand that after the suspension of officers from the Enfield Crime
squad under Operation Sumaq the then SIO DCI Simon Rose (now D/Supt)
carried out a number of briefings to senior MPS officers and home counties
officers under the general term of corporate learning'

1. Please could I be supplied with a copy of the briefing notes that were
handed out and any other documents that you have which supports the
contents of these briefings. As these briefings were considered to be
corporate learning, I can not see how any of the content could be refused
under any of the legal exemptions that the MPS can rely on. I do not seek
any information that is only known by DPS, just that which has now been
given to numerous other police officers, not connected with the
investigation.

2. Please could I be supplied with any part of the successful application
form completed by DCI Simon Rose for the post of D/Supt that specifically
relates to these briefings. Once again I do not seek any confidential
information in to the investigation, just that, if any, which relates to
the briefings. "

DECISION
I have considered your request in accordance with the Information
Commissioner's guidance on vexatious requests and have determined that
this request is vexatious.

REASON FOR DECISION
Operation Sumaq refers to a proactive police investigation into a small
number of police officers based upon Enfield Borough. This investigation
is currently ongoing. The MPS has received a large number of requests for
information under the Freedom of Information 2000 (the Act) for records
held that relate directly and/or indirectly to Operation Sumaq. These
requests have been made by a small number of individuals.

On each occasion the MPS receives a request about Operation Sumaq, members
of the investigative team must be engaged to consider the application.
This involves retrieving and reviewing the information requested to
determine whether the information can or cannot be provided under the Act.
Whilst I consider it reasonable for members of staff to answer questions
from members of the public about police investigations, this can, when a
large number of requests are received about one investigation, impose a
significant burden upon staff and distract them from their duties. This is
particularly the case when individuals who appear to be acting in concert
make a large number of requests about an ongoing investigation.

In advising public authorities upon whether requests should be classified
as vexatious under the Act, the Information Commissioner has stated:

"You should take account of the wider context and history of the request
when considering the questions. A request may not be vexatious in
isolation, but when considered in context (for example if it is the latest
in a long series of overlapping requests or other correspondence) it may
form part of a wider pattern of behaviour that makes it vexatious."

Having considered your request, this email serves as a refusal notice for
the requested information, by virtue of section 14(1) of the Act.

Section 14(1) states:

"Section 1(1) does not oblige a public authority to comply with a request
for information if the request is vexatious."

The Information Commissioner has published his guidance upon vexatious
requests. I have provided an internet link to this document below.

Information Commissioner Guidance: Vexatious or Repeated Requests
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/l...

This notice concludes your request for information. I would like to take
this opportunity to thank you for your interest in the MPS.

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 me on telephone number 0207 230 5204 quoting the reference
number above.

Yours sincerely

Damion Baird
Information Manager
Directorate of Professional Standards

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

show quoted sections