Secretary of State for the Home Department (Home Office)

The complainant requested specified types of information produced by the Border Force in relation to a drone incident at Gatwick airport in December 2018. Ultimately, the Home Office relied on sections 31(1)(a), (b) and (e) (law enforcement) and section 40(2) (personal information) of FOIA to withhold the requested information. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, the Home Office partly revised its position and disclosed a small amount of the in-scope information. It also said it did not hold the requested briefing materials, nor any photo or video footage. The complainant advised he was not concerned with the information withheld under section 40(2) of FOIA, so the Commissioner has not considered this aspect any further. The Commissioner’s decision is that sections 31(1)(a), (b) and (e) of FOIA have been properly relied upon by the Home Office. He also finds that, on the balance of probabilities, no recorded information is held by the Home Office in the form of briefing materials or phone or video footage. No steps are required as a result of this notice.