FOI 461-2023 / May 2023 / UAVs
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 461-2023
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 2nd May 2023 as follows:
Does Warwickshire Police:
Q1a. Own unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones? If so, how many, and what type or make?
Q1b. Sub-contract UAV services from an outside body, company, or other police force for police operations? If so, which body/company/forces and what type/make are used?
Q2. How many times has Warwickshire Police used drones for police operations between the period of April 2022 and March 2023 (please provide this in monthly figures - if answering this question may exceed cost limits, a monthly estimate would be sufficient, though please state that these figures are estimated)? And, can you describe the type of operations in which drones have been used i.e. missing person search, public order, road traffic accident etc?
Q3. Can you list the dates Warwickshire Police have used UAVs in relation to protests or demonstration type events between April 2022 and March 2023, along with the name/type of event covered?
Q4. How many complaints, if any, have been lodged with Warwickshire Police about their use of UAVs during the period of April 2022 and March 2023?
Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in providing the response to your request and for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Q1a response: Yes, 3 UAVs, DJI Mavic 2.
Q1b response: Not applicable.
Q2 response: The information provided below relates to overt use only.
|
2022/23 |
Total |
|
April |
2 |
|
May |
14 |
|
June |
9 |
|
July |
17 |
|
August |
18 |
|
September |
6 |
|
October |
1 |
|
November |
5 |
|
December |
12 |
|
January |
24 |
|
February |
27 |
|
March |
16 |
|
Grand Total |
151 |
These deployments were for a range of reasons including searches for missing persons, public events, and crimes in progress.
Q3 response: None recorded (relates to overt use).
Q4 response: 1 complaint.
In addition, in relation to the covert use of ‘Drones’ or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Warwickshire Police neither confirm nor denies that it holds any other information relevant to your request, as the duty in Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not apply, by virtue of the following exemptions:
- Section 23(5) Information relating to the Security bodies
- Section 24(2) National Security
- Section 31(3) Law enforcement
Section 23 is an absolute exemption which means that the legislators have already identified that harm would be caused by release and there is no requirement to consider the public interest test.
Sections 24 and 31 are prejudice based qualified exemptions and there is a requirement to articulate the harm that would be caused in confirming or denying that any other information is held as well as carrying out a public interest test.
Evidence of Harm
As you may be aware, disclosure under FOIA is a release to the public at large. Whilst not questioning the motives of the applicant, confirming, or denying that any other information is held regarding the use of this specialist equipment for covert purposes, would show criminals what the capacity, tactical abilities and capabilities of the force are, allowing them to target specific areas of the UK to conduct their criminal/terrorist activities. Confirming or denying the specific circumstances in which the police service may or may not deploy UAVs, would lead to an increase of harm to covert investigations and compromise law enforcement. This would be to the detriment of providing an efficient policing service and a failure in providing a duty of care to all members of the public.
It is generally recognised that the international security landscape is increasingly complex and unpredictable. Since 2006, the UK Government have published the threat level, based upon current intelligence and that threat is currently categorised as ‘substantial’, see link below:
Threat Levels | MI5 - The Security Service
The UK continues to face a sustained threat from violent extremists and terrorists.
It is well established that police forces use covert tactics and surveillance to gain intelligence in order to counteract criminal behaviour. It has been previously documented in the media that many terrorist incidents have been thwarted due to intelligence gained by these means.
Confirming or denying that Warwickshire Police hold any other information in relation to the covert use of UAVs, would limit operational capabilities as criminals/terrorists would gain a greater understanding of the police forces’ methods and techniques, enabling them to take steps to counter them. It may also suggest the limitations of police capabilities in this area, which may further encourage criminal/terrorist activity by exposing potential vulnerabilities. This detrimental effect is increased if the request is made to several different law enforcement bodies. In addition to the local criminal fraternity now being better informed, those intent on organised crime throughout the UK, will be able to ‘map’ where the use of certain tactics are or are not deployed. This can be useful information to those committing crimes. It would have the likelihood of identifying location-specific operations which would ultimately compromise police tactics, operations and future prosecutions as criminals could counteract the measures used against them.
Any information identifying the focus of policing activity could be used to the advantage of terrorists or criminal organisations. Information that undermines the operational integrity of these activities will adversely affect public safety and have a negative impact on both national security and law enforcement.
Public Interest Test
Factors favouring Neither Confirming Nor Denying for Section 24
The information, if held simply relates to national security and confirming or denying whether it is held would not actually harm it. The public are entitled to know what public funds are spent on and what security measures are in place, and by confirming or denying whether any other information regarding the covert use of UAVs is held, would lead to a better-informed public.
Factors against Neither Confirming Nor Denying for Section 24
By confirming or denying whether any other information is held would render Security measures less effective. This would lead to the compromise of ongoing or future operations to protect the security or infra-structure of the UK and increase the risk of harm to the public.
Factors favouring Neither Confirming Nor Denying for Section 31
Confirming or denying whether any other information is held regarding the covert use of UAVs would provide an insight into the police service. This would enable the public to have a better understanding of the effectiveness of the police and about how the police gather intelligence. It would greatly assist in the quality and accuracy of public debate, which could otherwise be steeped in rumour and speculation. Where public funds are being spent, there is a public interest in accountability and justifying the use of public money.
Some information is already in the public domain regarding the police use of this type of specialist equipment and confirming or denying whether any other information is held would ensure transparency and accountability and enable the public to see what tactics are deployed by the Police Service to detect crime.
Factors against Neither Confirming Nor Denying for Section 31
Confirming or denying that any other information is held regarding the covert use of UAVs would have the effect of compromising law enforcement tactics and would also hinder any future investigations. In addition, confirming or denying methods used to gather intelligence for an investigation would prejudice that investigation and any possible future proceedings.
It has been recorded that FOIA releases are monitored by criminals and terrorists and so to confirm or deny any other information is held concerning specialist covert tactics would lead to law enforcement being undermined. The Police Service is reliant upon all manner of techniques during operations and the public release of any modus operandi employed, if held, would prejudice the ability of the Police Service to conduct similar investigations.
By confirming or denying whether any other information is held in relation to the covert use of UAVs would hinder the prevention or detection of crime. Warwickshire Police would not wish to reveal what tactics may or may not have been used to gain intelligence as this would clearly undermine the law enforcement and investigative process. This would impact on police resources and more crime and terrorist incidents would be committed, placing individuals at risk. It can be argued that there are significant risks associated with providing information, if held, in relation to any aspect of investigations or of any nation's security arrangements, so confirming or denying that any other information is held, may reveal the relative vulnerability of what we may be trying to protect.
Balance test
The security of the country is of paramount importance and Warwickshire Police will not divulge whether any other information is or is not held regarding the covert use of UAVs if to do so would place the safety of an individual at risk, undermine National Security or compromise law enforcement.
Whilst there is a public interest in the transparency of policing operations and providing assurance that Warwickshire Police is appropriately and effectively engaging with the threat posed by various groups or individuals, there is a very strong public interest in safeguarding the integrity of police investigations and operations in the highly sensitive areas such as extremism, crime prevention, public disorder, and terrorism prevention.
As much as there is public interest in knowing that policing activity is appropriate and balanced, this will only be overridden in exceptional circumstances. The areas of police interest discussed above are sensitive issues that reveal local intelligence, and therefore it is our opinion that for these issues the balancing test for confirming or denying whether any other information is held regarding the covert use of UAV’s, is not made out.
However, this should not be taken as necessarily indicating that any information that would meet your request exists or does not exist.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB