Regular readers of this obscure blog may have noticed that our recent Freeedom of Information Act requests have not been for Government or Public Body documents or information which is confidential, but for things which have been promised to have already been claimed to have been published on a website , or for which there is a statutory duty to make public according to an Act of Parliament.
It should not require a Freedom of Information Act request to precipitate the publication of this sort of information !
Either our recent FOIA request to the Information Commissioner, or the independent pressure of enquiries by David Mery to the Metropolitan Police Service and th to the Metropolitan Police Authority, appears to have worked.
Thje Information Commissioner's search form for the Register of Data Controllers now shows an entry for Commissioner of the Metropolis, which it did not do so before e.g. through searching on the SW1H 0BG postcode or the wird Metropolis in the name field etc.
Technically, the title should be "Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis", which is what the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair is referred to in various bits of legislation e.g. the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act Section 133, whereby, controversially, demonstrators in the the Designated Area around Parliament Square have to apply to the holder of this public office, in writing, for prior permission.
Registration Number: Z4888193Date Registered: 09 September 2000 Registration Expires: 08 September 2007
Data Controller: COMMISSIONER FOR THE METROPOLIS
Address:
METROPOLITAN POLICE SERVICE
NEW SCOTLAND YARD
BROADWAY
LONDON
SW1H 0BG[...]
Purpose 2
Policing
Purpose Description:
The prevention and detection of crime; apprehension and prosecution of offenders, protection of life and property; maintenance of law and order; also rendering assistance to the public in accordance with force policies and procedures.
Data Controllers further description of Purpose:
PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF CRIME.
APPREHENSION AND PROSECUTION OF OFFENDERS.
MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER.
PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.
VETTING AND LICENCING.
PUBLIC SAFETY.
RENDERING ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ACCORDANCE
WITH FORCE POLICY.Data subjects are:
Staff including volunteers, agents, temporary and casual workers
Complainants, correspondents and enquirers
Relatives, guardians and associates of the data subject
Advisers, consultants and other professional experts
Offenders and suspected offenders
WitnessesVICTIMS - CURRENT, PAST AND POTENTIAL.
PERSONS GIVEN A CAUTION OR WARNING.
PERSONS SUBJECT TO JUDICIAL AND OTHER DISPOSALS INCLUDING CONVICTIONS,
BINDOVERS, DISCHARGES, ACQUITTALS, ORDERS MADE UNDER LEGISLATION
E.G. HARASSMENT ACT 1997.
SUSPECT OFFENDERS UNDER AGE OF 10Data classes are:
Personal Details
Family, Lifestyle and Social Circumstances
Education and Training Details
Employment Details
Financial Details
Racial or Ethnic Origin
Political Opinions
Religious or Other Beliefs Of A Similar Nature
Physical or Mental Health or Condition
Sexual Life
Offences (Including Alleged Offences)
Criminal Proceedings, Outcomes And Sentences.DNA, FINGERPRINTS AND OTHER GENETIC SAMPLES.
SOUND AND VISUAL IMAGES.
LICENSES OR PERMITS HELD.
CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE.
REFERENCES TO MANUAL RECORDS OR FILES.
COMPLAINT, INCIDENT AND ACCIDENT DETAILS.Sources (S) and Disclosures (D)(1984 Act). Recipients (1998 Act):
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
CUSTOMS AND EXCISE.
INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND BODIES.
NON HOME OFFICE POLICE FORCES.
REGULATORY BODIES.
LICENSING AUTHORITIES.
LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES.
PROSECUTING AUTHORITIES.
DEFENCE SOLICITORS.
COURTS.
PRISONS.
SECURITY COMPANIES.
PARTNER AGENCIES INVOLVED IN CRIME AND DISORDER STRATEGIES.
PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANISATIONS WORKING WITH POLICE IN ANTI-CRIME STRATEGIES.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR ORGANISATIONS.
APPROVED ORGANISATIONS AND PEOPLE WORKING WITH POLICE.
D POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY.Data subjects themselves
Relatives, guardians or other persons associated with the data subject
Current, past or prospective employers of the data subject
Healthcare, social and welfare advisers or practitioners
Police forces
Local Government
Central Government
The media
Data processorsTransfers:
Worldwide
[...]
We await any release of recent correpondence between the Information Commissioner's Office and the metropolitan Police Service over this issue, according to ouur FOIA request, hopefully later this month, with interest.
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