Operation Aurora

Waiting for an internal review by West Midlands Police of their handling of this request.

Dear West Midlands Police,

Please could you answer the following under FOI

Operation Aurora

1 What was the purpose, remit and terms of reference of the
operation
2 What dates it ran
3 What results it achieved in terms of number of arrests, number charged, number of convictions and for what offences for each ( if the request goes over the limit, please drop the convictions and offences part of this question)
4 Who the Police officer was in charge and how many officers were on the operation
5 Why the operation was instigated
6 Where the operation was run from and what area did it cover
7 Why was the name chosen and whether it had always had that name or whether there were connected operations
8 Where this information is now kept, and in what form -physical or electronic. If electronic is it on HOLMES?
9 What are the indicators used by the Police as a measure of
success of an Operation.
10 Where any childrens establishments involved? If so which?
11 When is any data re this Operation due for deletion?
12 What forces were involved with his Operation

Yours faithfully,

Shona Scott

Freedom of Information,

Dear Ms Scott

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

 

Thank you for your request for information received 15 December 2013. I
apologise for the delay in providing this response.

 

REQUEST

 

Operation Aurora

 

1 What was the purpose, remit and terms of reference of the operation

2 What dates it ran

3 What results it achieved in terms of number of arrests, number charged,
number of convictions and for what offences for each ( if the request goes
over the limit, please drop the convictions and offences part of this
question)

4 Who the Police officer was in charge and how many officers were on the
operation

5 Why the operation was instigated

6 Where the operation was run from and what area did it cover

7 Why was the name chosen and whether it had always had that name or
whether there were connected operations

8 Where this information is now kept, and in what form -physical or
electronic. If electronic is it on HOLMES?

9 What are the indicators used by the Police as a measure of success of an
Operation.

10 Where any childrens establishments involved? If so which?

11 When is any data re this Operation due for deletion?

12 What forces were involved with his Operation

 

 

RESPONSE

 

This request has been aggregated with the three other requests that you
have made to West Midlands Police regarding Operations (4296/13, 4327/13
and 4435/13).

 

The cost of compliance with your request is above the amount to which we
are legally required to respond, i.e. the cost of confirming or denying
that the information is held would exceed the appropriate costs limit
under section 12 of the Freedom of information Act 2000. For West Midlands
Police, the appropriate limit is set at £450, as prescribed by the Freedom
of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees)
Regulations 2004, S.I. 3244. A public authority which, in relation to any
request for information, is relying on a claim that section 12 or section
14 applies must, within the time for complying with Section 1(1), give the
applicant a notice stating that fact. In accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, this letter acts as a refusal notice.

 

We have already offered what can be provided within the appropriate limit
(ref: 4296/13). This offer was accepted and the data provided on 13
January 2014 (ref: 4456/13).

 

Your attention is drawn to your right to request a re-examination of your
case under West Midlands Police review procedure, which can be found at:

 

http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/pdf/F...

 

Please note that such an appeal must be received within 40 working days of
the date of this correspondence.

 

If you require any further information, then please do not hesitate to
contact me.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Carl Bird

Freedom of Information Unit

Corporate Communications

To report crime and anti-social behaviour which does not require an
emergency response, please call 101. In an emergency, dial 999.

 

Ext: 7630 6260

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or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the
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alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. Views or opinions
expressed in this email do not necessarily represent those of West
Midlands Police. All West Midlands Police email activity is monitored for
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responsibility is accepted by West Midlands Police for any loss or damage
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Dear West Midlands Police,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of West Midlands Police's handling of my FOI request 'Operation Aurora'.

I am for the time being withdrawing my request on Operation Aurora. However I wish to make a time complaint in that the request was sent on 7th December and no reply was made promptly or within 20 working days as required by law. In fact the request was not responded to until 27th January. Therefore the West Midlands Police is again breaking the law

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/o...

Yours faithfully,

Shona Scott

Freedom of Information,

Dear Ms Scott

 

FOI Internal Review Reference: 4462_13

 

Thank you for your email received 28^th January 2014 where you requested
West Midlands Police to review its response to your request for
information concerning Operation Aurora

 

Request

 

Operation Aurora

 

1. What was the purpose, remit and terms of reference of the operation

2. What dates it ran

3. What results it achieved in terms of number of arrests, number charged,
number of convictions and for what offences for each ( if the request goes
over the limit, please drop the convictions and offences part of this
question)

4. Who the Police officer was in charge and how many officers were on the
operation

5. Why the operation was instigated

6. Where the operation was run from and what area did it cover

7. Why was the name chosen and whether it had always had that name or
whether there were connected operations

8. Where this information is now kept, and in what form -physical or
electronic. If electronic is it on HOLMES?

9. What are the indicators used by the Police as a measure of success of
an Operation.

10. Where any childrens establishments involved? If so which?

11. When is any data re this Operation due for deletion?

12. What forces were involved with his Operation.

 

Response

I understand that you have withdrawn your request regarding Operation
Aurora (our reference 4462_13), but would like the issues of the timing of
the reply to be addressed. I am however, obliged to look at the request in
its entirety.

 

A review has been conducted and the decision to refuse request 4462_13 on
the basis of exceeding cost is being upheld by the West Midlands Police.
This letter serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act).

 

This request has been combined with 4327_13 (Operation Talkwell), 4456_13
(Operation Camassia) and 4435_13 (Operation Ore). As the response to
request 4456_13 (Operation Camassia) exceeded the appropriate limit then,
and the requests are combined, then the response to this request also
exceeds the limit. For a more detailed explanation into why these requests
have exceeded the cost threshold, please consult the internal review for
your original request (Operation Camassia 4456_13).

While we are not strictly obliged to do so under the FOI Act, if you are
willing to focus your three remaining requests, we will endeavour to see
what can reasonably be provided. Therefore please provide details of which
request/operation you would prefer us to search for data for. We will then
see whether any further information can be provided.

 

Please also note that consideration of Section 14 is based on a number of
factors, not just the intent of the requester. We must also consider if
there is serious purpose and value behind the request, and if there is any
wider value or public interest in making the requested information
publically available. We do not believe that these requests satisfy these
criteria. You have made frequent requests involving substantial amounts of
information regarding investigations into child abuse. In this case
dealing with these requests is creating a burden on West Midlands Police
and therefore consideration of the application of this section of the act
is valid.

 

I acknowledge that a response was not provided to you within the 20
working day timescales. The Force had a large build up of overdue requests
and this request was regrettably one of those requests. The build-up of
outstanding requests resulted from a combination of factors, including:

 

Accelerated reduction in staff numbers;

Increase in volume and significant increase in complexity of requests;

Increased difficulty in obtaining the required information from other
departments;

Significant long term sickness

 

Maintaining a good relationship with the public is of paramount importance
and I sincerely apologise for the delay and any inconvenience that is has
caused.

 

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioners Office for a
decision. You can pursue the matter by following the link below:

[1]http://ico.org.uk/

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Courtney Martin

 

 

Kind regards,

Courtney Martin
Freedom of Information Unit

Corporate Communications

 

Tel: 0345 113 5000

ext: 7630 3507

 

To report crime and anti-social behaviour which does not require an
emergency response please call 101. In an emergency call 999.

Website: [2]www.west-midlands.police.uk
Twitter: [3]www.twitter.com/wmpolice
Facebook: [4]www.facebook.com/westmidlandspolice
YouTube: [5]www.youtube.com/westmidlandspolice

Flickr: [6]www.flickr.com/westmidlandspolice

 

[7]View all our social network links

 

Our vision: Serving our communities, protecting them from harm

 

This email is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged
or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the
originator immediately. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or
alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. Views or opinions
expressed in this email do not necessarily represent those of West
Midlands Police. All West Midlands Police email activity is monitored for
virus, racist, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate activity. No
responsibility is accepted by West Midlands Police for any loss or damage
arising in any way from the receipt or use of this email.

References

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Dear Freedom of Information,

You state

"I understand that you have withdrawn your request regarding Operation
Aurora (our reference 4462_13), but would like the issues of the timing of
the reply to be addressed. I am however, obliged to look at the request in
its entirety."

Please could you detail any guidance etc from ICO that states you have to look at the request in its entirety.

Please could you also state exactly on what basis you linked all the requests together bearing in mind the ICO advice

Yours sincerely,

Shona Scott

Freedom of Information,

Dear Ms Scott

 

FOI Request and Internal Review Reference: 4462_13

 

REQUEST

 

You state

 

"I understand that you have withdrawn your request regarding Operation
Aurora (our reference 4462_13), but would like the issues of the timing of
the reply to be addressed. I am however, obliged to look at the request in
its entirety."

 

Please could you detail any guidance etc from ICO that states you have to
look at the request in its entirety.

 

Please could you also state exactly on what basis you linked all the
requests together bearing in mind the ICO advice.

 

 

RESPONSE

 

Thank you for your response to our internal review, received on the 19^th
May 2014.

The West Midlands Police follow the ACPO Manual of Guidance on Internal
Reviews/ complaints, which states ‘it is important to be aware that the
internal review stage is an opportunity to consider a case completely
afresh. Compliance with the legislation is an important component of the
process but all relevant considerations should be revisited and
appropriately documented”. Whilst we are not obliged to look at the
request in its entirety, we feel that it is good practice to review the
full request. See:

[1]www.acpo.police.uk/documents/information/2009/200902INFFOI06.pdf

 

 

The timing aspect was looked at in addition to all other factors, so
please be assured that you were in no way disadvantaged.

This request (4462_13) was combined with your other requests Operation
Talkwell (4327_13), Operation Camassia (4456_13) and Operation Ore
(4435_13) because they were made by the same person, for similar
information within a period of 60 days.

The ICO states:

“When calculating the costs of complying, you can aggregate (total) the
costs of all related request you receive within 60 days from the same
person or from people who seem to be working together”. See

[2]http://ico.org.uk/for_organisations/free...

As explained in the response to Operation Talkwell (4427_13), the requests
were deemed to be for the same or similar information. Note that the ‘same
or similar information’ can be defined as when ‘there is an overarching
theme or common thread running between the requests in the term of the
nature of the information that has been requested.’ In this case, all four
requests have an overarching theme of investigations into child abuse.

 

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.

Yours sincerely,

Courtney Martin
Freedom of Information Unit

Corporate Communications

 

Tel: 0345 113 5000

ext: 7630 3507

 

To report crime and anti-social behaviour which does not require an
emergency response please call 101. In an emergency call 999.

Website: [3]www.west-midlands.police.uk
Twitter: [4]www.twitter.com/wmpolice
Facebook: [5]www.facebook.com/westmidlandspolice
YouTube: [6]www.youtube.com/westmidlandspolice

Flickr: [7]www.flickr.com/westmidlandspolice

 

[8]View all our social network links

 

Our vision: Serving our communities, protecting them from harm

 

This email is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged
or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the
originator immediately. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or
alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. Views or opinions
expressed in this email do not necessarily represent those of West
Midlands Police. All West Midlands Police email activity is monitored for
virus, racist, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate activity. No
responsibility is accepted by West Midlands Police for any loss or damage
arising in any way from the receipt or use of this email.

References

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Dear Freedom of Information,

So you were not obliged to consider the whole requested as you falsely said. Therefore please could I have a review based on what I asked for as I am entitled to

Yours sincerely,

Shona Scott

Freedom of Information,

Dear Ms Scott

As previously stated, 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

Kind regards,

Courtney Martin
Freedom of Information Unit

Corporate Communications

 

Tel: 0345 113 5000

ext: 7630 3507

 

To report crime and anti-social behaviour which does not require an
emergency response please call 101. In an emergency call 999.

Website: [1]www.west-midlands.police.uk
Twitter: [2]www.twitter.com/wmpolice
Facebook: [3]www.facebook.com/westmidlandspolice
YouTube: [4]www.youtube.com/westmidlandspolice

Flickr: [5]www.flickr.com/westmidlandspolice

 

[6]View all our social network links

 

Our vision: Serving our communities, protecting them from harm

 

This email is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged
or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the
originator immediately. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or
alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. Views or opinions
expressed in this email do not necessarily represent those of West
Midlands Police. All West Midlands Police email activity is monitored for
virus, racist, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate activity. No
responsibility is accepted by West Midlands Police for any loss or damage
arising in any way from the receipt or use of this email.

References

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Dear West Midlands Police,
I am aware of my rights under the FOI Act to contact the ICO, which I may do in due course. However I am asking you to fulfill your duty under the Act, and I am asking you to withdraw your false statement that you were OBLIGED to consider the full request, which in a subsequent answer you changed, with no apology, to that you considered it best practise to consider the full request, despite the requests being withdrawn.
Best practise here would be to conduct an internal review as asked , and there is nothing to say you cannot do so.
I give you full opportunity to do now.

Yours faithfully,

Shona Scott

Freedom of Information,

Good morning Ms Scott,

Freedom of Information Request: 4462_14

I would like to reiterate your rights to contact the Information
Commissioner for a decision under Section 50 of the Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA). The Information Commissioner can be contact at:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

We have fulfilled our duties under the legislation and will not correspond
with you further regarding this request (4462_14).

If you wish to submit any further requests, these will be considered under
the FOIA.

Yours sincerely,

Courtney Martin.

This email is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged
or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the
originator immediately. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or
alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. Views or opinions
expressed in this email do not necessarily represent those of West
Midlands Police. All West Midlands Police email activity is monitored for
virus, racist, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate activity. No
responsibility is accepted by West Midlands Police for any loss or damage
arising in any way from the receipt or use of this email.

Dear Freedom of Information,

I am aware of my rights under the FOI Act to contact the ICO, which
I may do in due course. However I am asking you to fulfill your
duty under the Act, and I am asking you to withdraw your false
statement that you were OBLIGED to consider the full request, which
in a subsequent answer you changed, with no apology, to that you
considered it best practise to consider the full request, despite
the requests being withdrawn.
Best practise here would be to conduct an internal review as asked, and there is nothing to say you cannot do so.
I give you full opportunity to do now, again

Yours sincerely,

Shona Scott

Dear West Midlands Police,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of West Midlands Police's handling of my FOI request 'Operation Aurora'.

You are obliged to carry out an internal review as asked for , under the FOI acts

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/o...

Yours faithfully,

Shona Scott

Freedom of Information,

Please accept this as an acknowledgement of receipt of your e-mail by the
Freedom of Information Unit.
 
If your email is a request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act, your request will be dealt with within the legislative
deadline of 20 working days.  Should we be unable to meet this deadline
for any reason you will be notified as soon as possible.
 
If your request does not relate to Freedom of Information, your e-mail
will be forwarded to the relevant department and you will be notified
where this has been passed to.
 
If you require further information please contact 101 and ask for the
Freedom of information Unit.
 
You might find what you are looking for on our website:
[1]http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/
 
If you have information about any crime, you can contact us on the
non-emergency number: 101.
 
In an emergency, for example where life is in danger or a crime in
progress, call 999.

This email is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged
or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the
originator immediately. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or
alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. Views or opinions
expressed in this email do not necessarily represent those of West
Midlands Police. All West Midlands Police email activity is monitored for
virus, racist, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate activity. No
responsibility is accepted by West Midlands Police for any loss or damage
arising in any way from the receipt or use of this email.

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