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Overtime & Terror Suspects

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Dear Northumbria Police,

Dear Sir/Madam

I am requesting the following under the 2000 FOI Act

-The number of hours of overtime worked in the last three years by police officers in your employ
- The number of hours and estimated cost of those hours spent by your officers surveiling terror suspects who have been released from prison.
- The number of the above hours that have been overtime hours

Please provide the information electronically.
If it is not possible to provide the information requested please provide advice and assistance, under your Section 16 obligations, as to how I can refine my request to be included in the scope of the Act.
In any case, if you can identify ways that my request could be refined please provide further advice and assistance to indicate this.
I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as stipulated by the Act.
If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me via email or phone and I will be happy to clarify what I am asking for, my details are outlined below.
Best wishes,
Jake Hurfurt

Yours faithfully,

Jake Hurfurt

Freedom of Information Mailbox, Northumbria Police

Dear Jake

Thank you for your email below. In order for us to progress your request could you please provide clarification of exactly what period you are seeing the information for when you refer to the "last three years"?

Are you seeking the last three complete calendar years, financial year, data from 21 February 2017 or some other period?

As soon as clarification of the above has been received we will be able to progress your request.

Kind regards

FOI Team

www.northumbria.police.uk

'Northumbria Police will be outstanding in the service we provide'

'We will do this through protecting the Vulnerable, delivering quality Investigations and applying Problem solving to everything we do to protect the communities we serve.'

-----Original Message-----
From: Jake Hurfurt [mailto:[FOI #648765 email]]
Sent: 21 February 2020 16:56
To: Freedom of Information Mailbox
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Overtime & Terror Suspects

Dear Northumbria Police,

Dear Sir/Madam

I am requesting the following under the 2000 FOI Act

-The number of hours of overtime worked in the last three years by police officers in your employ
- The number of hours and estimated cost of those hours spent by your officers surveiling terror suspects who have been released from prison.
- The number of the above hours that have been overtime hours

Please provide the information electronically.
If it is not possible to provide the information requested please provide advice and assistance, under your Section 16 obligations, as to how I can refine my request to be included in the scope of the Act.
In any case, if you can identify ways that my request could be refined please provide further advice and assistance to indicate this.
I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as stipulated by the Act.
If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me via email or phone and I will be happy to clarify what I am asking for, my details are outlined below.
Best wishes,
Jake Hurfurt

Yours faithfully,

Jake Hurfurt

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NORTHUMBRIA POLICE PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE The information contained in this message and any attachment(s) is confidential and intended only for the attention of the named organisation or individual to whom it is addressed. The message may contain information that is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. No mistake in transmission is intended to waive or compromise any such privilege. This message has been sent over public networks and the sender cannot be held responsible for its integrity. If you are not the intended recipient be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken in reliance of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited, and is contrary to the provisions of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act, 1988 and of the Data Protection Act, 2018. Any views expressed are those of the sender and, unless specifically stated, do not necessarily represent the view of Northumbria Police. We cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage sustained as a result of software viruses. It is your responsibility to carry out such virus checking as is necessary. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by e-mail at once and delete the message immediately. For more information about Northumbria Police please visit our website - http://www.northumbria.police.uk

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Dear Freedom of Information Mailbox,

The last three reporting years, whether that is financial, calendar or whatever other system you use.

Yours sincerely,

Jake Hurfurt

Freedom of Information Mailbox, Northumbria Police

Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)

 

Thank you for your email received recently in which you provide
clarification of a request for information that Northumbria Police may
hold in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

We are in the process of dealing with your request and a response should
be provided to you by 23 March 2020 which is in accordance with the
legislation.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Information Management Unit

[1]www.northumbria.police.uk | [2]www.northumbria-pcc.gov.uk

'Northumbria Police will be outstanding in the service we provide'

'We will do this through protecting the Vulnerable, delivering quality
Investigations and applying Problem solving to everything we do to protect
the communities we serve.'

 

NORTHUMBRIA POLICE PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE The information
contained in this message and any attachment(s) is confidential and
intended only for the attention of the named organisation or individual to
whom it is addressed. The message may contain information that is covered
by legal, professional or other privilege. No mistake in transmission is
intended to waive or compromise any such privilege. This message has been
sent over public networks and the sender cannot be held responsible for
its integrity. If you are not the intended recipient be aware that any
disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken in reliance of the
information contained herein is strictly prohibited, and is contrary to
the provisions of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act, 1988 and of the
Data Protection Act, 2018. Any views expressed are those of the sender
and, unless specifically stated, do not necessarily represent the view of
Northumbria Police. We cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage
sustained as a result of software viruses. It is your responsibility to
carry out such virus checking as is necessary. If you have received this
message in error, please notify the sender by e-mail at once and delete
the message immediately. For more information about Northumbria Police
please visit our website - http://www.northumbria.police.uk

References

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Freedom of Information Mailbox, Northumbria Police

Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)

 

Further to the acknowledgement of your recent FOI request I must advise
that due to the current pressures being placed on operational policing,
there is likely to be a delay in providing responses to FOI requests.  Due
to exceptional changes in operating procedures and workloads resulting
from Coronavirus, we are not able to update individuals on estimates
regarding response times.  Northumbria Police apologises for any
inconvenience caused if your response is outside the legislative
timescales.  Please be assured that we are working hard to comply with all
elements of the legislation where possible and we ensure that we comply
with the advice and guidance issued by the Information Commissioners
Office during these exceptional times.  Northumbria Police is committed to
supplying a response to your request as quickly as possible.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Information Management Unit

[1]www.northumbria.police.uk | [2]www.northumbria-pcc.gov.uk

'Northumbria Police will be outstanding in the service we provide'

'We will do this through protecting the Vulnerable, delivering quality
Investigations and applying Problem solving to everything we do to protect
the communities we serve.'

NORTHUMBRIA POLICE PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE The information
contained in this message and any attachment(s) is confidential and
intended only for the attention of the named organisation or individual to
whom it is addressed. The message may contain information that is covered
by legal, professional or other privilege. No mistake in transmission is
intended to waive or compromise any such privilege. This message has been
sent over public networks and the sender cannot be held responsible for
its integrity. If you are not the intended recipient be aware that any
disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken in reliance of the
information contained herein is strictly prohibited, and is contrary to
the provisions of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act, 1988 and of the
Data Protection Act, 2018. Any views expressed are those of the sender
and, unless specifically stated, do not necessarily represent the view of
Northumbria Police. We cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage
sustained as a result of software viruses. It is your responsibility to
carry out such virus checking as is necessary. If you have received this
message in error, please notify the sender by e-mail at once and delete
the message immediately. For more information about Northumbria Police
please visit our website - http://www.northumbria.police.uk

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.northumbria.police.uk
2. file:///tmp/www.northumbria-pcc.gov.uk

Freedom of Information Mailbox, Northumbria Police

1 Attachment

 

Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')

 

Thank you for your email dated 21 February 2020 in which you made a
request for access to certain information which may be held by Northumbria
Police.

 

As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of
access to information held at the time of a request, by a Public Authority
(including the Police), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.

 

You asked:

 

1.     The number of hours of overtime worked in the last three reporting
years (whether that is financial, calendar or whatever other system you
use) by police officers in your employ.

2.     The number of hours and estimated cost of those hours spent by your
officers surveilling terror suspects who have been released from prison.

3.     The number of the above hours that have been overtime hours,

 

 

We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request and I
provide a response for your attention.

 

Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted within
Northumbria Police.  I can confirm that the information you have requested
is held in part by Northumbria Police.

 

I am able to disclose the located information to you as follows.

 

1.     The number of hours of overtime worked is recorded in financial
years as follows:

2016/17 – 250,923

2017/18 – 241,298

2018/19 – 209,292

 

2&3.  Northumbria Police will neither confirm nor deny any information is
held at these points and by doing so rely on the following exemptions:

 

Section 24 (2) -  ‘National security’

Section 31 (3) - ‘Law Enforcement’

 

Sections 24, and 31 are prejudice based qualified exemptions and there is
a requirement to articulate the harm that would be caused in confirming or
not that the information is held as well as carrying out a public interest
test. 

 

Overall Harm in Confirming or Denying Information is Held:

 

Revealing information regarding officer surveillance of terrorists, would
release information regarding the force’s activities in the area. To
confirm officers in Northumbria Police have spent time on surveillance of
terror suspects released from prison, or equally to state ‘No Information
Held’ would highlight tactical and operational information. It would also
help criminals or those with a criminal intent to build up a picture of
where police resources are deployed in the fight against terrorism which
would compromise ongoing operations and investigations, some of which may
be covert. Conformation or denial of this information would also reveal
which areas have recently released terror suspects into the community.
This could result in community unrest and public disorder making it
necessary for the police to detour resources away from other operations
and investigations. The prevention and detection of crime is the
foundation upon which policing is built.  The Police Service has a clear
responsibility to prevent crime and arrest those responsible for crime or
those that plan to commit crime. By confirming whether or not any
information is held relevant to this request could directly influence the
effective delivery of operational law enforcement.

 

The threat from terrorism cannot be ignored and it is generally recognised
that the international security landscape is increasingly complex and
unpredictable. The current UK threat level from international terrorism,
based on intelligence, is Severe, which means that a terrorist attack is
likely, see below link: -

 

[1]https://www.mi5.gov.uk/threat-levels

 

In order to counter criminal and terrorist behaviour it is vital that the
police have the ability to work together, to obtain intelligence within
current legislative frameworks to assist in the investigative process to
ensure the successful arrest and prosecution of offenders who commit or
plan to commit acts of terrorism. 

 

To achieve this goal, it is vitally important that information sharing
takes place between police officers, members of the public, police forces
as well as other security law enforcement bodies within the United Kingdom
and internationally if appropriate. This information sharing supports
counter-terrorism measures in the fight to deprive terrorist networks of
the ability to commit crime.

 

To confirm or deny whether information is held relevant to this case would
be extremely useful to those involved in criminal activities and also
terrorists as it would enable them to identify whether Police technics are
being used in specific areas.

 

In addition, any disclosure no matter how generic, which may assist a
criminal, terrorist or terrorist organisation will adversely affect public
safety. 

 

The Police Service is committed to demonstrating proportionality and
accountability regarding surveillance techniques to the appropriate
authorities. However, if the Police Service were to either confirm or deny
that information exists, other tactics will either be compromised or
significantly weakened. If the Police Service denies information is held
in one request but then exempts for another, requesters can determine the
exempt answer is in fact a technique used in policing. The impact could
undermine national security, any on-going investigations and any future
investigations, as it would enable targeted individuals/groups to become
surveillance aware. This would help subjects avoid detection, and inhibit
the prevention and detection of crime.

 

Any information identifying the focus of policing activity could be used
to the advantage of terrorists or criminal organisations. Information that
undermines the operational integrity of these activities will adversely
affect public safety and have a negative impact on both national security
and law enforcement.

 

Public Interest Test

 

Section 24 (2) National Security

 

Factors favouring complying with Section 1(1) (a) confirming that
information is held

The public are entitled to know how public funds are spent and how
resources are distributed within an area of policing. To confirm whether
officers have deployed in surveillance of terrorists released from prison,
would also give confidence that resources are being deployed to protect
the public. In the current financial climate of cuts and with the call for
transparency of public spending this would enable improved public debate
and give reassurance to the public.

 

Factors against complying with Section 1(1) (a) confirming or denying that
information is held

Security measures are put in place to protect the community we serve. As
evidenced within the harm to confirm where terrorists are monitored would
highlight to terrorists, and individuals intent on carrying out criminal
activity, vulnerabilities within forces.

 

Taking into account the current security climate within the United
Kingdom, no information (such as the citing of an exemption which confirms
terrorists are monitored within a specific jurisdiction or conversely,
stating no information is held), which may aid a terrorist should be
disclosed. To what extent this information may aid a terrorist is unknown,
but it is clear that it will have an impact on a force’s ability to
monitor terrorist activity.

 

Irrespective of what information is or isn’t held, the public entrust the
Police Service to make appropriate decisions with regard to their safety
and protection and the only way of reducing risk is to be cautious with
what is placed into the public domain.

 

The cumulative effect of terrorists gathering information from various
sources would be even more impactive when linked to other information
gathered from various sources about terrorism. The more information
disclosed over time will give a more detailed account of the tactical
infrastructure of not only a force area but also the country as a whole.

 

Any incident that results from such a disclosure would, by default, affect
National Security.

 

To confirm or deny whether the Force hold information would allow
inferences to be made about the nature and extent of national security
related activities which may or may not take place in a given area. This
could enable a terrorist group(s) to take steps to avoid detection, and as
such, confirmation or denial would be damaging to National Security.

 

By confirming or denying any policing arrangements of this nature would
render national security measures less effective. This would lead to the
compromise of ongoing or future operations to protect the security or
infra-structure of the UK and increase the risk of harm to the public.

 

Section 31 (3) Law Enforcement

 

Factors favouring complying with Section 1(1) (a) confirming that any
other information is held

Confirming that any other information exists relating to terrorists would
lead to a better informed public which may encourage individuals to
provide intelligence in order to reduce offences.

 

Factors against complying with Section 1(1) (a) neither confirm nor
denying that any other information is held

Confirmation or denial that information relating to the monitoring of
terrorists is held in this case would suggest Northumbria Police take
their responsibility to protect information dismissively and
inappropriately. 

 

Balance Test

 

Northumbria Police has a duty of care to the community at large and public
safety is of paramount importance.  If an FOI disclosure revealed
information to the world that would undermine the security of the national
infrastructure, offenders, including terrorist organisations, could use
this to their advantage which would compromise public safety and more
worryingly encourage offenders to carry out further crimes.

 

By its very nature, information relating to whether or not terrorists are
surveyed within a specific force area undoubtedly undermines the effective
delivery of operational law enforcement.  Under FOI there is a requirement
to comply with Section 1(1) (a) and confirm what information is held.  In
some cases it is that confirmation, or not, which could disclose facts
harmful to members of the public, police officers, other law enforcement
agencies and their employees.

 

 

Due to the different methods of recording information across 43 forces, a
specific response from one constabulary should not be seen as an
indication of what information could be supplied (within cost) by another.
Systems used for recording these figures are not generic, nor are the
procedures used locally in capturing the data. For this reason responses
between forces may differ, and should not be used for comparative
purposes.

 

The information we have supplied to you is likely to contain intellectual
property rights of Northumbria Police. Your use of the information must be
strictly in accordance with the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as
amended) or such other applicable legislation. In particular, you must not
re-use this information for any commercial purpose.

 

You may be interested to know that Northumbria Police routinely publish
information via the Disclosure Log. The aim of the Disclosure Log is to
promote openness and transparency by voluntarily placing information into
the public arena.

 

The Disclosure Log contains copies of some of the information that has
been disclosed by Northumbria Police in response to requests made under
the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

Whilst it is not possible to publish all responses we will endeavour to
publish those where we feel that the information disclosed is in the wider
public interest.

 

The Disclosure Log will be updated once responses have been sent to the
requester.

 

I have provided the relevant link below.

 

[2]https://beta.northumbria.police.uk/about...

 

How to complain

 

If you are unhappy with our decision or do not consider that we have
handled your request properly and we are unable to resolve this issue
informally, you are entitled to make a formal complaint to us under our
complaints procedure, attached.

 

If you are still unhappy after we have investigated your complaint and
reported to you the outcome, you may complain directly to the Information
Commissioner’s Office and request that they investigate to ascertain
whether we have dealt with your request in accordance with the Act.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Michael Cleugh

Data Protection and Disclosure Advisor

 

[NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED]

 

'Northumbria Police will be outstanding in the service we provide'

'We will do this through protecting the Vulnerable, delivering quality
Investigations and applying Problem solving to everything we do to protect
the communities we serve.'

 

NORTHUMBRIA POLICE PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE The information
contained in this message and any attachment(s) is confidential and
intended only for the attention of the named organisation or individual to
whom it is addressed. The message may contain information that is covered
by legal, professional or other privilege. No mistake in transmission is
intended to waive or compromise any such privilege. This message has been
sent over public networks and the sender cannot be held responsible for
its integrity. If you are not the intended recipient be aware that any
disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken in reliance of the
information contained herein is strictly prohibited, and is contrary to
the provisions of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act, 1988 and of the
Data Protection Act, 2018. Any views expressed are those of the sender
and, unless specifically stated, do not necessarily represent the view of
Northumbria Police. We cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage
sustained as a result of software viruses. It is your responsibility to
carry out such virus checking as is necessary. If you have received this
message in error, please notify the sender by e-mail at once and delete
the message immediately. For more information about Northumbria Police
please visit our website - http://www.northumbria.police.uk

References

Visible links
1. https://www.mi5.gov.uk/threat-levels
2. https://beta.northumbria.police.uk/about...

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Jake Hurfurt please sign in and let everyone know.