Chief Constable Commissioner for the Metropolis (Metropolitan Police Service)

The complainant requested information about the monitoring of internal email accounts from the Metropolitan Police Service (the “MPS”). The MPS provided some information but it initially withheld an internal form, citing sections 31(1)(a) and (b) (Law enforcement) of FOIA. Following the partial disclosure of this form, the complainant advised that he wanted a ‘completed’ form, as he believed he had personally been subject to such monitoring. The Commissioner’s decision is that information of this description was not within the scope of the request and so the MPS was not required to consider any such information as may be held, for disclosure. 

The MPS subsequently located further information. It advised the Commissioner that some of this could be disclosed but that the remainder was being withheld under sections 31(1)(a) and (b) (Law enforcement) and 40(2) (Personal information) of FOIA. Where cited, the Commissioner finds that both these exemptions are properly engaged. He finds no breach of section 16(1) (Advice and assistance), however, the Commissioner finds breaches of sections 1(1)(a) (General right of access) and 10(1) (Time for compliance) of FOIA. The Commissioner requires the MPS to disclose the information that was identified to the Commissioner as suitable for disclosure in the MPS’s email of 29 April 2026.