FOI 606-2025 / June 2025 / Vehicle procurement
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 606-2025
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 5th June 2025 as follows:
Please provide the following:
Q1. The number of vehicles procured (i.e., purchased or leased) by your police force between 23 March 2020 (start of the first COVID-19 lockdown) and 19 July 2021 (lifting of the final major lockdown in England).
Q2. Of those vehicles, how many were fitted with engines supplied by Cummins Ltd?
If possible, please break the data down by year (2020, 2021), though this is not essential.
Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Response: Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 places two duties on public authorities. Unless exemptions apply, the first duty at Section1(1)(a) is to confirm or deny whether the information specified in a request is held. The second duty at Section1(1)(b) is to disclose information that has been confirmed as being held.
When refusing to provide information (because the information is exempt), Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires Warwickshire Police to provide 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.
I can confirm that Warwickshire Police do hold the information requested; however, some unmarked vehicles and some marked vehicles in specialised roles are being withheld from disclosure by virtue of the following exemption:
Section 31(1)(a)(b) – Law Enforcement
Section 31 exemption is a prejudice-based qualified exemption and as such, there is a requirement to evidence the harm disclosure would cause and to carry out a public interest test.
Evidence of Harm
Unmarked vehicles used in certain specialised roles are unmarked for the specific purpose of being unidentifiable. There are concerns associated with the release of any information that would identify our capability in such roles, or in any role which could lead to the compromise of law enforcement. Disclosing any information about such vehicles, together with other information already in the public domain, would assist those intent on criminal behaviour.
Disclosure of any information in relation to some specialised marked vehicles would enable criminals to map resources across the force and would equip individuals involved in criminal activity with an indication of Warwickshire Police capabilities. This information, together with that already in the public domain, would build up a mosaic picture of resources and thereby assist those involved in criminal behaviour. This in turn would hinder the prevention and detection of crime and place the community at increased unnecessary risk of harm.
Public Interest Test
Section 31 - Factors Favouring Disclosure
There is a legitimate public interest in the public being satisfied that the police force has up to date and well-maintained vehicles to deliver services to the public, when and where required, and disclosure would show accountability of Warwickshire Police in performing a key policing function.
Disclosure may add value to the accuracy of public debate with regards to resources allocated for the prevention and detection of crime.
Section 31 - Factors Against Disclosure
The Police Service has a duty to ensure that the prevention and detection of crime, apprehension or prosecution of offenders, and administration of justice is carried out appropriately and effectively. Disclosing information that may reveal the extent of resources available for some specialist roles could enable police strength to be determined and circumvented by those intent on committing crime and provide a tactical advantage to offenders, which would negatively impact on public safety and undermine the policing purpose.
Balance Test
For a public interest test, issues that favour disclosure need to be measured against issues that favour non-disclosure.
Whilst the value of accountability and the legitimate interest in the public being satisfied that the force has up to date and well-maintained vehicles to deliver services is recognised, there is no further tangible benefit to the public interest in identifying information in relation to vehicles used in specialist roles.
It is not in the public interest for law enforcement tactics and operational capability to be compromised with the disclosure of fleet details. The ability to deliver effective law enforcement is of paramount importance and Warwickshire Police will not divulge information if to do so would have an adverse effect on the force’s ability to prevent and detect crime. To disclose the details would not only affect the force’s ability to do so but would also impact upon its core responsibility of protecting the community it serves and its officers.
Therefore, 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 and this represents a refusal notice for information in relation to some unmarked vehicles and some marked vehicles, in specialised roles.
Please find the information I am able to provide set out below.
Q1 response:
2020/21 – 35
2021/22 – 16
Q2 response: No information held.
Please note that the numerical data presented in this response is an un-audited snapshot of un-published data sourced from "live" systems and is subject to the interpretation of the original request by the individual extracting the data.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible; however, the data is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system that relies on manual input, therefore care should be taken to ensure data collection processes, and their inevitable limitations are considered when interpreting the data.
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