Freedom of Information requests re Madeleine McCann - Contacts between the Met Police and BBC Crimewatch - Request refused as 'vexatious'

My question in blue below

The refusal and reasons for refusal in red below.

I have not appealed the decision

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

8 January 2014

Dear Mr Bennett,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2014010000368
I respond in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 03/01/2014. I note
you seek access to the following information:

These questions relate to the contacts between staff of Operation Grange
and the makers of the BBC Crimewatch Special on Madeleine McCann on 14
October 2013.

Please state (a) the date and (b) the circumstances under which the
Metropolitan Police Operation Grange Team and the BBC Crimewatch team
first discussed the making of the programme about Madeleine McCann
transmitted on 14 October 2013.

Please list all occasions since then, giving the dates, on which any
member of Operation Grange met any member of the BBC Crimewatch Team (or
anyone else from the BBC), either physically, or by video conference - and
for each occasion, list the numbers of Operation Grange members who
attended each meeting.

NOTE: This information will be very easy to find from DCI Andy Redwood's
Policy Folder on Grange's relations with BBC Crimewatch.

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act). You will receive a response within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party. In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to achieve this
deadline. If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please email
or contact me on telephone number 020 7230 2372 quoting the reference
number above.

Yours sincerely

James Young
SC&O Information Manager
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.



Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system. To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law. Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents. The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).



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Link to this

From: Anthony Bennett

1 February 2014

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

These questions relate to the contacts between staff of Operation
Grange and the makers of the BBC Crimewatch Special on Madeleine
McCann on 14 October 2013.

Your response is now out of time.

Yours faithfully,

Anthony Bennett
Link to this

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

10 February 2014

Dear Mr Bennett

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2014010000368

I respond in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 03/01/2014. I note
you seek access to the following information:

These questions relate to the contacts between staff of Operation Grange
and the makers of the BBC Crimewatch Special on Madeleine McCann on 14
October 2013.

1. Please state
(a) the date and
(b) the circumstances under which the Metropolitan Police Operation Grange
Team and the BBC Crimewatch team first discussed the making of the
programme about Madeleine McCann transmitted on 14 October 2013

2. Please list all occasions since then, giving the dates, on which any
member of Operation Grange met any member of the BBC Crimewatch Team (or
anyone else from the BBC), either physically, or by video conference - and
for each occasion, list the numbers of Operation Grange members who
attended each meeting.

NOTE: This information will be very easy to find from DCI Andy Redwood's
Policy Folder on Grange's relations with BBC Crimewatch.

DECISION

Section 14 (1) - Vexatious or repeated requests

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 14(1) of the Freedom of Information
Act 2000 (the Act) I have decided to refuse your request as it has been
deemed as a vexatious request.

Under Section 14(1) of the Act, a public authority does not have to comply
with vexatious requests. There is no requirement for a public interest
test.

You have made multiple requests for information relating to the Operation
Grange investigation. You have also engaged in voluminous correspondence
with the Operation Grange team all regarding this single investigation.

You have been warned previously about the vexatious nature of these
requests.

The Act was designed to give individuals a greater right of access to
official information with the intention of making public bodies more
transparent and accountable.

Whilst most people exercise this right responsibly, a few may misuse or
abuse the Act by submitting requests which are intended to be annoying or
disruptive or which have a disproportionate impact on a public authority.

The Information Commissioner recognises that dealing with unreasonable
requests can place a strain on resources and get in the way of delivering
mainstream services or answering legitimate requests. Furthermore, these
requests can also damage the reputation of the legislation itself.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights which explains how to make a complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me via email, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

James Young
SC&O Information Manager

In complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information, the
Metropolitan Police Service will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the
enclosed information will continue to be protected by law. Applications
for the copyright owner's written permission to reproduce any part of the
attached information should be addressed to MPS Directorate of Legal
Services, 1st Floor (Victoria Block), New Scotland Yard, Victoria, London,
SW1H 0BG.
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.



Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system. To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law. Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents. The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).



Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk
Twitter: @metpoliceuk