Thank you for contacting the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). This is
to acknowledge receipt of your message.

Emails are one of the best ways of communication with the PCC, but you
will appreciate that the PCC receives a considerable number of letters,
emails and telephone calls every day, as well as face-to-face meetings at
public events. Please kindly accept that correspondence will need to be
prioritised and if a response is required, the PCC will aim to reply
within 20 working days.

You can stay up-to-date with the work of your Police and Crime
Commissioner by signing up online to receive regular newsletter at
[1]www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk. You can also follow her on Twitter
@AandSPCC and @SuMountstevens - or by liking us on Facebook.

Yours faithfully
Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Office
Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner, Valley Road, Portishead,
Bristol BS20 8JJ
Tel: 01275 816377 / Fax:  01275 816388
[2]www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk/
2. http://www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk/

Our ref: FOI 714

23^rd April 2018

Dear Mr Chapman

RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Having completed my search for the information that you requested on 5^th
April 2018, I can confirm that this is not held by the Office of Avon and
Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, which is a separate organisation
to Avon and Somerset Police.

With the aim of assisting you, I have referred your request to Avon and
Somerset Police Freedom of Information Department.  If you do not get a
direct reply from the Police and wish to follow up your request then you
can write to:

Freedom of Information Team

Corporate Information Management

Avon and Somerset Constabulary HQ

PO Box 37

Valley Road

Portishead

Bristol

BS20 8QJ

Or contact the team on-line at:

[1]https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/ab...

May I also suggest that you review the Police publication scheme on-line
at:

[2]https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/foi

If you have any queries about my reply and actions then please contact me
again, quoting the reference number above in any future communications. 
If you are unhappy about how I have dealt with your request and wish to
make a complaint or request a review of my decision then you can write to:

       The Chief Executive

       Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office

       Valley Road

       Portishead

       Bristol

       BS20 8JJ

Thank you for your interest in Avon and Somerset Police.

Yours sincerely,

Freedom of Information Officer

Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office

Valley Road, Portishead, Bristol BS20 8JJ

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Thank you for your request for information, which has today been
transferred across from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office. 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.

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Mr Chapman
I am unable to conduct an initial review as a response has not yet been sent to you.
I therefore have nothing to review.

I would advise you await your reply prior to requesting a review.
Your response is due to be sent to you today and is in the final stages of completion.

Many thanks
Rebecca

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Corporate Information Management Department

Force Headquarters, PO Box 37, Valley Road,

Portishead, Bristol, BS20 8QJ

Email [email address]    

Mr Damian Champion Our Reference 556/18

[1][FOI #475489 email] Date 22 May 2018

Dear Mr Champion

I write in connection with your request for information under the Freedom
of Information Act which was transferred to us from the Avon and Somerset
Police and Crime Commissioner on 23^rd April 2018.

Specifically you asked:

Please provide the register of premises or land owned by, or occupied for
the purposes of, the office of Police and Crime Commissioner, and the
functions of their force, for the financial year 2017/18.

Entries listed should be broken down by local policing directorate (or
borough), and indicate whether it is:

Police building

Other building/land

Neighbourhood office

Other

Our response:

Please find a list of buildings owned or occupied attached (pdf doc). This
includes those with a holding licence which are neighbourhood drop-in
posts. The building addresses have been provided as this is how this is
recorded.

I am not obliged to provide the addresses for some of the locations as the
exemption applicable to this information is Section 21 – Information
reasonably accessible by other means. This is an absolute and class based
exemption and as such does not require a harm and public interest test.

The information requested is publicly available to view on our websites. I
have provided links where this is the case.

In addition, Avon and Somerset Constabulary owns and occupies properties
which are not in the public domain. These locations have been deemed
exempt from disclosure as the following exemptions apply:

Section 31(1) Law Enforcement

Section 24(1) National Security

Section 38(1) Health and Safety

Sections 31 and 24 and 38 are prejudice based qualified exemptions
therefore there is a requirement to articulate the harm that would be
caused by disclosing the information.

Harm

Avon and Somerset Constabulary owns properties which are not in the public
domain. This allows for policing activities to be carried out away from
the possibility of being observed. Disclosure of all owned/occupied
properties would identify those that are not in the public domain and
could therefore release sensitive information that would hinder our
ability to enforce the law and protect national security. The health and
safety of staff could also be put at risk. 

Public Interest Test

Factors favouring disclosure

There is public interest in how an authority spends public money.
Disclosure of the information would ensure openness and transparency and
would lead to a better informed public debate.

Factors favouring non-disclosure

Section 31(1)

Having properties in locations that are not in the public domain allows
for certain policing activities to be carried out with the minimal
possibility of being observed. Disclosing the locations of those
properties would allow criminals to determine where those activities are
being carried out. Criminals could therefore observe them in order to gain
intelligence which could aid criminal activity by ascertaining when they
perceive to be less likely to be detected and to undermine the policing
activities at those locations.

Section 24(1)

The threat of terrorism cannot be ignored. The [2]current threat level for
international terrorism in the UK is ‘severe’ which means that an attack
is highly likely. To release further information in relation to properties
owned by the constabulary and their locations would undermine the
constabulary’s policing capabilities which would consequently be
detrimental to our ability to deal with the ongoing terrorist threat we
face.

Section 38(1)

Furthermore, the health and safety of the individuals frequenting those
locations would be put at risk. The individuals who work at these
locations could be identified as being involved in policing activities.
This could put them in danger of being targeted by criminals whilst
carrying out those activities.

Balance test

Whilst there is a general public interest in being open and transparent
about how and where public money is spent and the services that we
provide, there is a greater public interest in protecting our policing
abilities, nation security and the health and safety of individuals. No
information will be released into the public domain if to do so would
undermine our capabilities. The constabulary has a responsibility its
staff and the communities we serve and therefore it is for the reasons
outlined above that it is decided that the public interest weighs in
favour of non-disclosure.

Yours sincerely

Michelle Radcliffe

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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