Request
1. What documents are available in relation to preparations for Brexit preparations, No deal or otherwise, and what is the number of documents that are non-public?
2. What is the authorisation and decision process leading up to deployment of authorised firearms officers?
3. What documents are created ahead of, during, and as a result of such processes?
4. What assets, units and personnel are on standby for immediate deployment in the event of a major emergency incident (terrorist or otherwise)?
Response
Please find enclosed our response
In relation to Question 1 and 3 these questions are not valid under s8 (1) (c)
Question 2 – We can confirm that some relevant information is held by West Midlands Police. Please see link below
https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/armed-policing/
In respect of Question 4 – The information is exempt by virtue of the following exemptions
Exempt by virtue of Section 31 (1)( a,b ) – Law Enforcement
Section 24 (1) National Security
Section 38(1) Health and Safety
Section 27(1) International Relations
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 attached.
In addition to the enclosed West Midlands Police can neither confirm nor deny that it holds any other information relevant to this request as the duty in Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not apply by virtue of the following exemption:
Section 23(5) Information supplied by, or concerning, certain Security Bodies
Section 23 is a class based absolute exemption and there is no requirement to consider the public interest in this case.
Confirming or denying the existence of whether any other information is held would contravene the constrictions laid out within Section 23 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in that this stipulates a generic bar on disclosure of any information applied by, or concerning, certain Security Bodies.
This exemption and explanatory notes is shown here:
No inference can be taken from this refusal that any further information relevant to your request does or does not exist.