Police buildings 1163/2023

FOI Reference: 1163/2023

Request:

The location of all buildings currently owned or occupied by your organisation.

I would like the actual location of each building i.e. address and postcode.

Response:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, however some of that information has been withheld by virtue of the Section 31(1)(a)(b) Law Enforcement and Section 24(1) National Security.

Station	Address
Aberaeron Police Station	Penmorfa, Aberaeron, SA46 0PA
Aberystwyth Divisional HQ	Boulevard Saint Brieuc, Aberystwyth, SY23 1PH
Ammanford Police Station	Foundry Road, Ammanford, SA18 2LS
Brecon Divisional HQ	Plas y Ffynnon, Brecon, LD3 7HP
Builth Wells Police Station	Garth Road, Builth Wells, LD2 3AR
Burry Port Police Station	Sandfield Road, Burry Port, SA16 0BH
Cardigan Police Station	Parc Teifi, Cardigan, SA43 1EW
Carmarthen NPT	8 Hall Street, Carmarthen, SA31 1PR
Carmarthen - Force HQ	Llangunnor Road, Carmarthen, SA31 2PD
Carmarthen Police Station	Llangunnor Road, Carmarthen, SA31 2PD
Crickhowell Police Station	High Street, Crickhowell, NP18 1BE
Cross Hands Police Station	Llandeilo Road, Cross Hands, SA14 6NA
Crymych Police Station	Main Road, Crymych, SA41 3QF
Fishguard Police Station	Brodog Lane, Fishguard, SA65 9NR
Haverfordwest Divisional HQ	Merlin's Hill, Haverfordwest, SA61 1PE
Hay-On-Wye Police Station	Heol y Dwr, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5AS
Kidwelly NPT (in MAWWFS)	Station Road, Kidwelly, SA17 4UT
Lampeter Police Station	Temple Terrace, Lampeter, SA48 7BH
Llandeilo Police Station	Carmarthen Road, Llandeilo, SA19 6RP
Llandovery Police Station	Towy Avenue, Llandovery, SA20 0EH
Llandrindod Wells Police Station	Noyadd Park, LD1  5DF
Llandysul Police Station	Church Street, Llandysul, SA44 4QS
Llanelli Town NPT base	Old Castle Road, Llanelli, SA15 3AD
Llanelli Police Station and Custody Suite (new build site)	Heol Aur, Dafen, Llanelli, SA14 8LQ
Llanfyllin Police Station	High Street, Llanfyllin, SY22 5BQ
Llanidloes Police Station	9 Lon Glandwr, Llanidloes, SY18 6YS
Llwynhendy Police Station	Lon Ceiriog, Llwynhendy, Llanelli, SA14 9HB
Machynlleth Police Station	Doll Street, Machynlleth, SY20 8BH
Milford Haven Police Station	Suite 4 and 4a Cedar Court, Milford Haven, SA73 3LS
Narberth Police Station	Jesse Road, Narberth, SA67 7DP
Newcastle Emlyn Police Station	Cawdor Terrace, Newcastle Emlyn,  SA38 9AJ
Newtown Police Station	Park Lane, Newtown, SY16 1EN
Pembroke Dock Police Station	Water Street, Pembroke, SA72 6DW
Presteigne Police Station	Hereford Street, Presteigne, LD8 2AR
Rhayader Police Station	East Street, Rhayader, LD6 5DR
St David’s NPT (in MAWWFS)	Nun Street, St David’s SA62 6NU
Tenby Police Station	Warren Street, Tenby, SA70 7JS
Welshpool Police Station	Severn Road, Welshpool, SY21 7AR
Whitland Police Station	St Mary Street, Whitland, SA34 0PY
Ystradgynlais Police Station	Station Road, Ystradgynlais, SA9 1NZ
Section 31(1)(a)(b) Law Enforcement and Section 24(1) National Security applies

Section 31(1)(a)(b) – Law Enforcement

Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 places two duties on public authorities. Unless exemptions apply, the first duty at Section 1(1) (a) is to confirm or deny whether the information specified in a request is held. The second duty at Section 1(1) (b) is to disclose information that has been confirmed as being held.

Where exemptions are relied upon section 17 of FOIA requires that we provide the applicant with a notice which:

1. a) States that fact
2. b) Specifies the exemption(s) in question and
3. c) State (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies

The Section 31 exemption is a prejudice-based qualified exemption. There is therefore a requirement to carry out a HARM Test in respect of such information and there is a requirement to carry out a Public Interest Test in order to establish whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption may be outweighed by a wider public benefit in disclosure.

Evidence of Harm

Under the Act, we cannot, and do not request the motives of any application for information. We have no doubt that the vast majority of requests made under the Act are legitimate and the applicants do not have any ulterior motives. However, in disclosing information to one applicant, we are expressing a willingness to provide it to anyone in the world. This means that a disclosure to a genuinely interested and concerned person automatically opens it up for a similar disclosure, including those who would use the information to gain an advantage over our ability to exercise our core function which is Law Enforcement.

In considering whether or not this information should be disclosed, consideration has been given to the potential harm that could be caused by disclosure.

The police service is charged with enforcing the law, preventing and detecting crime and protecting the communities we serve. The general public are also aware that modern day policing is intelligence led and that there are changes on a day to day basis. Disclosure of information in respect of police buildings that are deemed sensitive would divulge the forces’ tactical capability in respect of this area of policing, which would cause operational harm to the Dyfed-Powys Police Force by affecting our ability to fulfil our core function of law enforcement. The release of such information would be invaluable to those with criminal intent, as criminals would be able to identify force tactical capabilities and use this knowledge to their own advantage in furthering criminal activity not only within this force but also throughout the country. Also, disclosure of police buildings deemed sensitive and its purposes would not only impact upon police resources but would also undermine law enforcement in relation to hindering the prevention and detection of crime.

Public Interest Test

Considerations favouring disclosure:

Factors favouring the disclosure of this information would include better awareness regarding buildings used by Dyfed-Powys Police.

Considerations favouring non-disclosure:

Factors favouring non-disclosure would be that it would compromise law enforcement tactics and more crime could be committed. This would have an impact on police resources and would hinder the prevention or detection of crime and place individuals at risk.

Balance Test

After considering the advantages and disadvantages in disclosure it falls upon Dyfed-Powys Police to conduct a balance test on the issues. The strongest arguments for release, which is better awareness, needs to be weighed against the strongest argument for non-release, which in this case is effective law enforcement.

The police service is charged with enforcing the law, preventing and detecting crime and protecting the communities we serve. The general public are also aware that modern day policing is intelligence led and that there are changes on a day to day basis. Disclosure of information in respect of  certain police buildings would divulge the forces’ tactical capability in respect of this area of policing which would cause operational harm to the Dyfed-Powys Police Force as well as potentially place officer’s safety at great risk as well as that of the general public by affecting our ability to fulfil our core function of law enforcement. The release of such information would be invaluable to those with criminal intent as criminals would be able to identify force tactical capabilities and use this knowledge to their own advantage in furthering criminal activity not only within this force but also throughout the country.

The Police Service is tasked with the prevention and detection of crime and protecting the public. Whilst there is a public interest in this subject there is a very strong public interest in safeguarding the protection of the public and the effective use of police resources. Public safety is of paramount importance and the police service will not divulge information if to do so would compromise law enforcement. 

Therefore, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Section 24(1) – National Security

Evidence of Harm

To release information relating to police buildings that are deemed sensitive would enable criminals and terrorists to geographically map force areas and identify ‘vulnerabilities within force area’ thereby rendering them easy targets. Modern day policing is intelligence-led and this is particularly pertinent with regard to both law enforcement and national security. The public expect police forces to use all powers and tactics available to them to prevent and detect  crime or disorder and maintain public safety.

The prevention and detection of crime is the foundation upon which policing is built and the threat from terrorism cannot be ignored. It is generally recognised that the international security landscape is increasingly complex and unpredictable. The current UK threat level from international terrorism, is assessed as ‘Substantial’ which means that a terrorist attack is highly likely. Threat Levels | MI5 - The Security Service

The Police Service has a duty of care to all individuals, including members of the public, police officers and police staff members. By disclosing this information the health and safety of the community at large would be compromised by highlighting force capabilities which would enable offenders to target their offending at vulnerable force areas which could lead to the public receiving injuries and suffering with stress and anxiety.

Factors favouring disclosure:

The public are entitled to know how public funds are spent and how resources are distributed within an area of policing. To provide the location of all police buildings would allow for public awareness of resourcing and capability of Dyfed Powys police, which in itself would lead to better public debate and participation. It would also help the public become more informed to make decisions about police funding and use of resources.

Factors favouring non-disclosure:

Security measures are put in place to protect the community we serve. As evidenced within the harm to provide the locations of police buildings that are deemed sensitive would highlight to terrorists and individuals intent on carrying out criminal activity potential vulnerabilities within Dyfed Powys police force.

Balance Test

Taking into account the current security climate within the United Kingdom, no information which may aid a terrorist should be disclosed. To what extent this information may aid a terrorist is unknown, but it is clear that it will have an impact on a force’s ability to monitor terrorist activity. The public entrust the Police Service to make appropriate decisions with regard to their safety and protection and the only way of reducing risk is to be cautious with what is placed into the public domain. The cumulative effect of terrorists gathering information from various sources would have even more of an impact when linked to other information gathered from various sources. The more information disclosed over time will give a more detailed account of the tactical infrastructure of not only a force area but also the country as a whole. Any incident that results from such a disclosure would, by default, affect National Security. Therefore it is our opinion that for these issues the balancing test for disclosing the requested information would not be in the public interest.

                                                                                                                                               

In addition to the above, Dyfed Powys police can neither confirm nor deny that it holds any other information with regard to an exempt body 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 Supplied by, or concerning, certain Security Bodies

Section 24(2) National Security

Section 23 is a class based absolute exemption and there is no requirement to consider the public interest in this case. Confirming or denying the existence of whether any other information is held would contravene the constrictions laid out within Section 23 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in that this stipulates a generic bar on disclosure of any information applied by, or concerning, certain Security Bodies.

Sections 24 is a prejudice based qualified exemption 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

Confirmation or denial that any further information is held relevant to this request would enable a geographical picture to be drawn up at force level, as well as a national level, about whether there are joint operational locations utilised and embedded by other law enforcement personnel; whether or not operating in concert with police officers of the host Constabulary. This would be vital police intelligence to individuals, some of whom may be terrorists or terrorist organisations, who are intent on targeting locations specifically utilised by Law Enforcement.

Confirmation or denial that any other information is held would leave forces open to disruption and compromise the effective delivery of operational law enforcement which in turn, is met by an increase of criminal offending. Any disclosure that undermines the generic terms of duty of care provided by policing and Law Enforcement would be detrimental to the public at large. In short, any incident that results from confirming that any other information is or isn’t held would by default affect National Security.

Public Interest Test

Factors favouring confirmation that information is held:

To confirm whether any other information is held relating to this request would better inform the general public as to the existence of policing and law enforcement capabilities within specific geographical locations. In turn, this can increase public confidence with the likely effect of dissuading mal-actors from operating within specific areas or regions.

Factors favouring denial that information is held:

Taking into account the current security climate within the United Kingdom, no information which may aid a terrorist should be disclosed. Security measures are put in place to protect the community that we serve. To confirm whether any other information is held relevant to this request would provide a detailed account of the tactical infrastructure of not only a force area but also the country as a whole. This would highlight to terrorists and individuals intent on carrying out criminal or terrorist activity any vulnerabilities within the localities of specific forces.

Confirmation, if held, would also allow inferences to be made about the nature and extent of national security related activities. This could enable terrorist groups to target sensitive police locations, and as such, confirmation or denial would be damaging to national security. This would lead to the compromise of ongoing or future operations to protect the security or infra-structure both within the UK and Internationally. Irrespective as to whether any information is or isn’t held, the public entrust the Police Service to make appropriate decisions with regard to their safety and protection and the only way of reducing risk is to be cautious with what is placed into the public domain.

Balance Test

After considering the advantages and disadvantages, confirmation or denial as whether any other information is held falls upon Dyfed-Powys Police to conduct a balance test on the issues. The strongest argument for confirming or denying any other information is held, is better awareness and transparency for the public, needs to be weighed against the strongest argument for neither confirming nor denying that any other information is held which in this case is effective law enforcement and national security. The Police Service is tasked with the prevention and detection of crime and protecting the public and the security of the country is of paramount importance.

The police will not confirm nor deny any other information is held if that would place the safety of an individual at risk or undermine national security. Whilst there is a public interest in the transparency of policing, and in this case providing assurance that the police service is appropriately and effectively engaging with the threat posed by terrorist activity, there is a very strong public interest in safeguarding both national security and the integrity of police Therefore, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in confirming or denying that any other information is held.

                                                                                                                                               

It should be noted that owing to the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such matters the information provided may or may not be accurate. However, the systems used for recording these figures are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted that for these reasons this Force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other response you may receive.           

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 07/02/24)