Police equipment (192A/24)
Request
Please could you provide information regarding:
- What body cameras do you use?
2. What radio make/ model do you use (On foot and in vehicles)?
3. What kind of incapacitant spray do you use? (CS, PAVA or other) – Please note the manufacture and product. - What is the current kit list issued to officers? – If possible please state the manufacturer/ model
Response
We can confirm that some relevant information is held by West Midlands Police. However, we are withholding some of that information since it is exempt by virtue of the following exemptions.
Section 31 (1) (a) (b) (c) (Law enforcement)
These exemptions and explanatory notes are shown here:
In line with the above, I am required to complete a Prejudice Test/Public Interest Test (PIT) on disclosure. Please find this PIT below.
What body cameras do you use?
Axon Body 3 (body camera)
Axon Body 2 (body camera)
Axon Flex 2 (head camera
What radio make/ model do you use (On foot and in vehicles)?
Section 31 (3) this data law enforcement
What kind of incapacitant spray do you use? (CS, PAVA or other) – Please note the manufacture and product.
Pava – Captor2
What is the current kit list issued to officers? – If possible please state the manufacturer/ model
| INITIAL POLICE CONSTABLE UNIFORM | |
| DESCRIPTION | QTY |
| HAT – REINFORCED OR HELMET CUSTODIAN | 1 |
| WINTER HI VIS JACKET – UNBADGED (U) | 1 |
| SOFT SHELL (JACKET FLEECE) | 1 |
| BLACK VELCRO NAME BADGE | 3 |
| BLACK SLIDERS (PAIR) | 4 |
| BODY ARMOUR HI-VIS + BAG | 1 |
| TAC VEST | 1 |
| BLACK SHIRTS – SHORT SLEEVED | MAX OF 6 |
| BLACK SHIRTS – LONG SLEEVED | |
| MICRO FLEECE | 1 |
| BELT – EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| BELT – LEATHER | 1 |
| PATROL TROUSERS | 3 |
| GLOVES – BLACK LEATHER | 1 |
| POUCH – SPEEDCUFF | 1 |
| LIMB RESTRAINTS SET + POUCH | 1 |
| HOLDALL | 1 |
| REFLECTIVE POLICE BADGE SET | 1 |
| BATON POUCH (BELT) | 1 |
| SPEEDCUFFS | 1 |
| 24″ POSITIVE LOCK BATON | 1 |
| TORCH – LED | 1 |
| POUCH – TORCH – LED | 1 |
| PERSONAL PROTECTION KIT | 1 |
| POUCH – PAVA SPRAY | 1 |
| BUCKLE GUARD | 1 |
| BELT – KEEPERS | 2 |
| POCKET BOOK COVER | 1 |
| WARRANT CARD HOLDER | 1 |
| TAG – HOLDALL – BLUE | 1 |
PUBLIC INTERST TEST (PIT)
Exemptions – Section 31- Law Enforcement
Harm
The disclosure of the requested information would provide the public at large with details of our communication systems carried by officers and used in the police vehicles. Force systems and products which are intended to be secure. These systems and products are secure they relate to policing activities. The requested information could be used by a hostile party to plan and execute an attack on force systems or the service provider / equipment. Such attacks could take the form of a deliberate interruption of service leading to denial of service or other deliberate disruptions. This could not help but have the effect of reducing the ability of the police to undertake relevant activities.
Factors favouring Disclosure:
The disclosure of the requested information would show which equipment / systems are used by the police service and reassure the public that these systems are up to date and secure. This would also provide reassurance to what products we use and the way in which we use them.
It is logical therefore that there is also public interest in the way the West Midlands Police handles and is able to use such data.
Considerations favouring Non-Disclosure:
Disclosure would provide those intent on disrupting police activities with enough information about the products we use to disrupt our systems or even to plan and execute a targeted attack. This would be detrimental to the effective operation of police activities. Additional resources would be required to counter the attack and this would also have financial implications.
Where current or future law enforcement role of the force may be compromised by the release of information, then this is unlikely to be in the interest of the public. In this case to provide specific details of the products we use within West Midlands Police. This would allow criminals to judge the specific ability of the force and thereby change their tactics to avoid detection. This would compromise the future prevention and detection of crime.
Ultimately any disclosure that would have a negative effect on our core functions of law enforcement would not be in the best interests of the public.
Balancing Test
For a public interest test, issues that favour release need to be measured against issues that favour non-disclosure. The public interest is not what interests the public, or a particular individual, but what will be the greater good, if released, to the community as a whole.
The issue of awareness is noted. However, on balance it is considered that the public interest in providing the information is outweighed by the potential impact release would have on future law enforcement activities.
The Police Service is charged with enforcing the law, preventing and detecting crime and protecting the communities we serve. As part of that policing purpose, information is gathered which can be highly sensitive relating to high profile investigative activity. Weakening the mechanisms used to protect this data, or providing information that would allow criminals to disrupt the service’s use of this information, would not be in the public interest.
The public interest is not what interests the public or a particular individual, but what will be for the greater good if released to the community as a whole.
Having considered the arguments for and against, the public interest test favours non-disclosure of this information. West Midlands Police will not disclose information that could compromise the future law enforcement role of the force.
Therefore, it is my opinion that the public interest in maintaining the exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
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