Information Access Team Information Services Branch

Rizwaan Sabir r.sabir@bath.ac.uk

Our ref: GSA/4/12

When calling or telephoning please ask for Philip Humphreys 31 January 2012
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Dear Rizwaan Sabir FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 4/12 I write in connection with your request for information dated 03/01/2012, which was received by Greater Manchester Police on 03/01/2012. I note you seek access to the following information: 1. The total amount of money that has been spent on purchasing police vehicles (cars and vans) for the years 2006 till 2011. 2. The total figure broken down by make of vehicle i.e., 100,000 was spent on Volvo vehicles, 93,000 was spent on Ford vehicles and so forth. 3. The total number of high-performance police vehicles that Greater Manchester Police (GMP) currently holds (cars only). Please provide the data on individual cars, i.e., GMP currently holds 3 x Jaguar XJ6, 5 x Suburu Imprezas, 3 x BMW 3 Series and so on and so forth. 4. The average cost of applying stickers, lights, sirens etc to a marked police car/van and an unmarked car/van. 5. How often police cars and vans are upgraded, and 6. Disclose what the police criteria for accepting a car/van as a police vehicle is, i.e., it has to be 5 door, 2.5 litre engine, diesel powered etc Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within Greater Manchester Police to locate information relevant to your request. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held, in part, by Greater Manchester Police, (GMP). 1 & 2 see table below:
Manufacturer AUDI BMW CITROEN Cost 218,284 2,337,202 98,053
Information Access Team, Information Services Branch, Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex, Lawton Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2NS Tel: 0161 856 2529, Fax: 0161 856 2535, Minicom: 0161 872 6633, Email: freedomofinformation@gmp.police.uk

FIAT FORD HONDA HYUNDAI IVECO JAGUAR KAWASAKI KIA LAND ROVER LEXUS MAZDA MERCEDES BENZ MITSUBUSHI NISSAN PEUGEOT PIAGGIO RENAULT SEAT SKODA SMART SUBARU SUZUKI TOYOTA VAUXHALL VOLVO VOLKSWAGEN YAMAHA OTHER TOTAL SPEND

94,536 5,399,017 159,052 71,327 796,953 94,239 6,991 48,159 1,171,740 41,628 40,691 1,126,314 49,843 86,372 171,073 23,292 200,713 186,951 275,492 22,587 112,309 45,239 651,827 2,197,805 179,621 3,785,934 30,673 276,179 20,000,092

With regards to Q3, section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires GMP, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies. The exemption applicable to the information is Section 31(1)(a)(b) Law Enforcement. Harm To disclose the numbers of individual types of cars owned by GMP would disclose the policing capabilities of the force, giving an advantage to those individuals intent on criminal activity. This would hinder the prevention and detection of crime and the apprehension and prosecution of offenders. Public Interest Test To disclose the specific numbers of types of cars owned by GMP would show the forces use of public money in purchasing essential vehicles for a policing purpose, albeit GMP have disclosed this within the response to questions 1 & 2 of this request. It would also give the public a better awareness of the vehicular law enforcement capabilities of the force and may assist in a reduction in crime.
Information Access Team, Information Services Branch, Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex, Lawton Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2NS Tel: 0161 856 2529, Fax: 0161 856 2535, Minicom: 0161 872 6633, Email: freedomofinformation@gmp.police.uk

Conversely to the above, the disclosure of the specific numbers of cars, in particular those considered high-performance, purchased by GMP would compromise the law enforcement tactics of the force and lead to an increase in crime. This would give an advantage to those individuals intent on criminal activity, impacting on the forces ability to prevent and detect crime and to apprehend and prosecute offenders. Responses to Freedom of Information Act requests are put into the public domain, therefore if information were requested from various police forces and disclosed, this would enable individuals to map the vehicular law enforcement capabilities of forces and create a perceived image of those forces with a lesser and/or greater capability, therefore impacting on forces throughout the UK. Balancing Test When balancing the Public Interest Test we have to consider whether the Public Interest is best served by the release of the information into the public domain. Arguments need to be weighed against each other. The most persuasive reasons for disclosure are accountability and use of public funds/resources and a better awareness to the public of the policing capabilities of GMP. These need to be weighed against the strongest negative reason, which, in this case, is the detrimental impact on the law enforcement capabilities of GMP, in turn compromising the forces ability to prevent and detect crime and apprehend and prosecute offenders. Therefore the decision at this time is to exempt the disclosure of the requested data in question 3 for the arguments cited above pursuant to section 31 Law Enforcement. 4 - 3,000.00
5 - The replacement criteria has been developed to ensure that vehicles are replaced at the

point their reliability starts to reduce and running costs increase. The following guidelines are used: Unit beat cars 5 years, over 90,000 miles Unit beat vans 4 years, over 140,000 miles SCD vehicles 5 year review Pool fleet 7 year review Traffic 4 years, over 120,000 6 information not held. In compliance with section 16 the duty to provide advice and assistance of the Act, GMP can advise that this is subject to a national tender and further information may be obtainable from the Government Procurement websites Bluelight and Bravoe. Complaint Rights Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of complaint. Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write or contact me on telephone number 0161 856 2529 quoting the reference number above. Yours sincerely

Information Access Team, Information Services Branch, Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex, Lawton Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2NS Tel: 0161 856 2529, Fax: 0161 856 2535, Minicom: 0161 872 6633, Email: freedomofinformation@gmp.police.uk

Philip Humphreys Information Access Officer

Information Access Team, Information Services Branch, Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex, Lawton Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2NS Tel: 0161 856 2529, Fax: 0161 856 2535, Minicom: 0161 872 6633, Email: freedomofinformation@gmp.police.uk

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 Greater Manchester Police 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 Greater Manchester Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding access to information, you can lodge a complaint with Greater Manchester Police to have the decision reviewed. Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to: Corporate Information Manager Greater Manchester Police Police Headquarters Chester House Boyer Street Manchester M16 0RE

The Information Commissioner After lodging a complaint with Greater Manchester Police if you are still dissatisfied with the decision you can make an 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 an 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
Information Access Team, Information Services Branch, Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex, Lawton Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2NS Tel: 0161 856 2529, Fax: 0161 856 2535, Minicom: 0161 872 6633, Email: freedomofinformation@gmp.police.uk

SK9 5AF Phone: 01625 545 700

Information Access Team, Information Services Branch, Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex, Lawton Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2NS Tel: 0161 856 2529, Fax: 0161 856 2535, Minicom: 0161 872 6633, Email: freedomofinformation@gmp.police.uk