Chief Constable Commissioner for the Metropolis (Metropolitan Police Service)

The complainant has made a two part request for information about its policies and procedures, to the Metropolitan Police Service (the “MPS”). The MPS initially found the request to be vexatious, citing section 14(1) (Vexatious requests) of FOIA. However, it subsequently revised its position. It said some information was not held and referred to some information, which it failed to disclose. 

The Commissioner’s decision is that the MPS failed to properly respond to the request, breaching sections 1(1)(a) and (b) (General right of access) of FOIA. He requires it to undertake further searches and issue a fresh response. This should include disclosure of the information identified when conducting an internal review. If an exclusion or exemption applies, a refusal notice compliant with section 17 of FOIA should be provided.