Now Leicestershire Police refuse a Freedom of Information Act 2000 request

by **Tony Bennett** 24.09.10 16:01

Here is the letter:

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

Leicesterhsire Constabulary
“Improving Confidence Through Raising Standards”
Our Ref: 001427/10
Professional Standards Department
Information Management
St Johns
Enderby,
Leicester
LE19 2BX

Date 24 September 2010

Tel: 0116 222 2222Ext: 5218/5219/5221
Fax: 0116 248 5217

Mr Bennett
66 Chippingfield
Harlow
ESSEX
CM17 0DJ

Dear Mr Bennett

Freedom of Information 2000 Reference No: 001427/10

I write in connection with your request for information received by Detective Inspector Mick Graham of Leicestershire Constabulary on 25 August 2010.

I write in response to your request within that correspondence made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please note the remainder of your letter is receiving the attention of Detective Inspector Mick Graham and a response will be sent to you in due course.

I note you seek access to the following information:

The following information is asked for in any event under the Freedom of Information Act:

The name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of the Portuguese contact to whom you are already routinely forwarding information and evidence, plus the name of their current Senior Investigating Detective, if different from your normal contact.

If you are unable to supply this information to me by return, please pass this FOI request to your FOI Officer without delay.

Your willingness to supply the information promptly would also of course show any future investigation of this case by an independent public enquiry or the Independent Police Complaints Commission your willingness to assist in any way to help answer the question of what really happened to Madeleine McCann.

Your request for information has now been considered and I am not obliged to supply the information you have requested.

I can confirm that Leicestershire Constabulary holds the information you have requested.

Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires Leicestershire Constabulary, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

The exemption(s) applicable to the information are as follows.

Section 30 (1) (a) (b) (c) Investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities.
Section 21 - Information accessible to applicant by other means.

The information you have requested was gathered for the purposes of an investigation and Section 30(1)(a)(b)(c) is engaged at this time. Unfortunately, Madeleine is still missing and the investigation ongoing. This fact alone favours non-disclosure as any release which would undermine the investigation is not in the public interest.

Leicestershire Constabulary currently has a publication strategy relating to the Madeleine McCann investigation. Please see link to the strategy:

http://www.leics.police.uk/files/library/documents/op-task-publication-strategy.pdf

Yours sincerely

Mrs Linda Dempsey
Information Management
Leicestershire Constabulary
0044 (0)116 222 2222
dataprotection@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk
0044 (0)0116 2485217
Website: http://www.leics.police.uk

by aiyoyo 24.09.10 16:24

"Unfortunately, Madeleine is still missing and the investigation ongoing. This fact alone favours non-disclosure as any release which would undermine the investigation is not in the public interest."

Well, far as the public know, the case was shelved.

If they're saying otherwise, ie it is ongoing, then the public should learn about it so that the mccanns cannot lie that no one is searching for Maddie.

I note they said 'missing' and NOT abducted.

It's as if LP and HO are hanging the mccanns by a thin thread. Hence the mccanns spin.

eta: Couldnt that question be posed to the Portugal investigators? ARe they also not obliged to divulge?

by **Tony Bennett** 24.09.10 16:36

By their answer, they are hindering me (or anyone else for that matter) passing information direct to the Portuguese police.

Remember that Leiecstershire Police and the government have constantly repeated this mantra: "This is a Portuguese-led investigation".

And, after the fiasco over the Gaspars' statements, what guarantee have we got that anything passed to Leicestershire will ever get to Portugal?

by Guest 24.09.10 17:06

None!

by aiyoyo 24.09.10 17:33

It's obvious what the LP are doing. Being awkward and obstrutive to the public enquiry.
Question is: are they within their rights not to answer to the point of FOI questions.
of course they deemed so, but is their say so legally correct?

At this snail pace LP and HO drag their feet..........the mccanns will get plenty time to implore people including students to help them in more than one way. Is the fund account transparent?