Record of former CI Ian Miles 978/2024
FOI Reference: 978/2024
Request:
Re Chief Inspector Ian Miles MVO. Please can you provide any information or photographs. I have acquired his Long service Medal
Clarification sought:
What exact information are you requesting
Clarification received:
I have Chief Inspector Miles LS&GC medals so it would be nice to add his career details to it
Especially known British & Foreign awards and distinctions Inc MVO 2018
Any citations
I know from his obituary he was prominent with Royal Protection, the 2012 Olympics and a very long Police career
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Response
Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) 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 Freedom of Information Act requires that we provide the applicant with a notice which:
a) States that fact
b) Specifies the exemption(s) in question and
c) State (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information that you have requested. However, we are withholding part of the information since we consider that the following exemption applies to it:
Section 38(1)(a) Health & Safety
(1) Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to –
(a) Endanger the physical or mental health of any individual,
The Section 38 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.
Harm for Section 38
To disclose the awards and distinctions of the late Chief Inspector Ian Miles MVO, would be releasing further information into the public domain regarding his personal achievements within his career. To release this information at this time, and following his death, could cause physical or mental harm to the health of any surviving relative of the deceased, as to publish this information would create difficult and painful memories to family members.
Public Interest Test
Considerations favouring disclosure:
Disclosure of the requested information would be of historical interest to the general public, of the awards and distinctions of the late Chief Inspector Ian Miles MVO.
Considerations favouring non-disclosure:
Disclosure of the information could cause significant distress to family members, by jeopardising their physical and mental well-being. Disclosure of the information would therefore result in a loss of confidence in the public authority to protect the well-being of the family and local community.
Balance Test:
Any release under the Freedom of Information Act is a disclosure to the world, not just to the individual making the request. Therefore, to disclose the requested information could cause harm to the surviving relatives of the deceased, as to publish this information would cause emotional distress and also create difficult memories for family members. This in turn is likely to lead to a loss of confidence in Dyfed-Powys Police’s ability to protect the wellbeing of the community.
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this represents a Refusal Notice for this particular request.
No inference can be taken from this refusal that the information you have requested does or does not exist.
As a gesture of goodwill, I have provided information which is relative to your request, which can be found via the hyperlinks below:-
Former police officer invested as Member of the Royal Victorian Order | South Wales Guardian
Ian MILES | The Royal Victorian Order | The Gazette
(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 31/10/2024)