Corporate Information Management Department

Force Headquarters, PO Box 37, Valley Road,

Portishead, Bristol, BS20 8QJ

Facsimile 01275 814667

Private Our Reference 029/15

Mr Saunders
Date 12 January
[1][FOI #247790 email] 2015

Dear Mr Saunders

I write in connection with your request for information dated 11^th
January 2015 concerning Operation Rhone. This request will be dealt with
under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Your request will now be considered and you will receive a response within
the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act. In some
circumstances Avon and Somerset Constabulary may be unable to achieve this
deadline if consideration needs to be given to the public interest test.
If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised time-scale at
the earliest opportunity.

Yours sincerely,

C Quartey

Freedom of Information Officer

Corporate Information Management Department

Please note;

1.     Requests and responses may be published on Avon and Somerset
Constabulary’s website (within 24 hours), some of which may contain a link
to additional information, which may provide you with further
clarification.

2.     Whilst we may verbally discuss your request with you in order to
seek clarification, all other communication should be made in writing.

3.     Avon and Somerset Constabulary provides you with the right to
request a re-examination of your case under its review procedure.

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Corporate Information Management Department

Force Headquarters, PO Box 37, Valley Road,

Portishead, Bristol, BS20 8QJ

Facsimile 01275 814667

Email foirequests@avonandsomerset.police.uk    

Private Our Reference 029/15

Mr Saunders Your reference  

[FOI #247790 email] Date 09 February 2015

Dear Mr Saunders

I write in connection with your request for information dated 11^th
January concerning Operation Rhone.

Specifically you asked: “I note that Avon and Somerset Constabulary have
released various details to the press about “Operation Rhone” over the
past few months. For example, the name is mentioned in the following
article:
[1]http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cop...
. In addition, they have publicised details about at least three people
arrested as a result of this investigation, in June 2014 and July 2014.
These were reported on the internet:

[2]http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Arrest-Bris...

[3]https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/ne...

[4]https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/ne...

In relation to these facts, please clarify the following information:

1) At what date did “Operation Rhone” commence?

2) What are the stated aims of “Operation Rhone”?

3) Of the three arrestees noted above, please indicate whether the
arrestee was charged with an offence, and the current status of the case
(ie cautioned, no further action, convicted, etc)”

The Major Incident Room was set up on 13th June 2014. All 3 arrestees
noted in the stories have resulted in no further action.

We are investigating in excess of 120 incidents as part of Operation
Rhone. These incidents include criminal damage and arson and have all
taken place in the Bristol and greater Bristol area.

You may also be interested in our appeal to find Huw ‘badger’ Norfolk. 
Please see the release on our website
[5]https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/ne...

The stated aims of “Operation Rhone” are:

• To seek to ensure the safety of the public and maintain the safety of
emergency services responding to incidents

• To protect property, including infrastructure critical to the delivery
of emergency services

• To minimise disruption to the public, including the business of the
emergency services and other organisations affected

• To bring offenders to justice and to disrupt and deter further
criminality

• To ensure an appropriate understanding of, and response to, the threat
from domestic extremism

• To maintain public confidence and respond to community concerns

• A proportionate focus that responds to criminality and does not suppress
lawful protest

We will continue to explore numerous lines of enquiry, which include
investigating claims of responsibility for incidents that have been made
on various online websites or documents.

Yours sincerely

C Quartey

Freedom of Information Officer

Corporate Information Management Department

Please note:

1.     Requests and responses may be published on Avon and Somerset
Constabulary’s website (within 24 hours), some of which may contain a link
to additional information, which may provide you with further
clarification.

2.     Whilst we may verbally discuss your request with you in order to
seek clarification, all other communication should be made in writing.

3.     Avon and Somerset Constabulary provides you with the right to
request a re-examination of your case under its review procedure (copy
attached).

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Dear Mr Saunders,

I will make enquires and get back to you as soon as possible.

Kind regards

C Quartey

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Dear Mr Saunders

Apologies for the delay in responding to you. I am still working on retrieving the information and will update you as soon as possible.

Kind regards

C Quartey

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Dear Mr Saunders,

I have received confirmation that Operation Rhone did not exist before 13th June 2014. There were other operations in place before this date.

Thank you for your patience.

Kind regards

C Quartey

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