Fleet data 993/2023
FOI Reference: 993/2023
Request:
Please can I request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act on operational vehicles.
- How many of your force's currently operational vehicles are over five years old?
- How many of your force's currently operational vehicles are over 10 years old?
- What is your force's oldest operational vehicle?
- How many currently operational vehicles does your force possess?
- How many of your force's vehicles broke down for each of the years a) 2019, b) 2020, c) 2021, d) 2022, e) 2023?
Response 1:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:
- 217 vehicles over 5 years old
Response 2:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:
- 7 vehicles over 10 years old
Response 3:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:
- 2009 Renault Megane
Response 4:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, however, we are withholding some of that information by virtue of Section 31(1)(a)(b) - Law Enforcement.
- As at 14/11/23 there were a total of 384 vehicles in the Dyfed Powys police fleet
Please note: Information/figures relating to covert vehicles have been exempted under Section 31(1)(a)(b) - Law Enforcement.
Section 31(1)(a)(b) Law Enforcement:
- Information which is not exempt information by virtue of section 30 is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to prejudice -
- the prevention or detection of crime
- the apprehension or prosecution of offenders
Section 31 is a prejudice based qualified exemption and as such, there is a requirement to provide details of the harm as well as the public interest test.
Section 31 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 certain unmarked vehicles connected with covert policing 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.
This would or would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime and the apprehension or prosecution of offenders.
Public Interest Test:
Section 31 - Considerations favouring disclosure:
Factors favouring the disclosure of this information would include better awareness regarding force vehicles.
Section 31 - 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 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.
Therefore, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Response 5:
I can confirm that there is no information held/recorded by Dyfed Powys police in respect of question 5 of your request.
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 16/01/24)