***FINAL REPLY received 13 Feb 2019*** FOI Act Question on Operation Grange, Oct 2018, Interim Reply

by **Tony Bennett** 19.12.18 16:35

This is not the answer to my FOI request, only a holding letter:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

December 13 2018 Tony to Metropolitan Police Service

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

I was promised a reply within 20 (working) days (21 November 2018).

Today your reply is 16 (SIXTEEN) working days overdue.

Please may I have your answers, thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Anthony Bennett

=======

December 19 2018 Metropolitan Police Service to Tony

Dear Mr Bennett,

Thank you for your email. I am sorry that the MPS have not been able to respond to your request within the 20 working day timeframe. I have checked our system and can see that this case has been allocated to my colleague Lisa Murphy.

Lisa, can you give the applicant an update on this one please?

Regards,

David.

show quoted sections
Link to this Report
Cyclops on behalf of Peter Deja, Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)
19 December 2018
1 Attachment
attachment.png
48K Download

Information Rights Unit
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
United Kingdom

Our Ref: 01/FOI/18/000454

Date: 19/12/2018

Dear Mr Bennett

Freedom of Information Review Reference No: 01/FOI/18/000454

I write in connection with your request for a review of the handling
and/or decision relating to 2018100001063  which was received by the
Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 13 December 2018.

A review will now be conducted in accordance with the Code of Practice
issued under Section 45 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act).

The reviewing officer will reconsider the original request before
responding to you with their findings.

There is no statutory time limit in relation to the completion of an
Internal Review. However, the MPS aim to complete Internal Reviews within
20 working days or in exceptional cases, within 40 working days. This is
based upon guidance published by the Information Commissioner.

If it is not possible to complete the Internal Review within this
timescale you will be informed at the earliest opportunity.

If you are unhappy with the outcome of an Internal Review you may wish to
refer the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

For information on how to make an application to the Information
Commissioner please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.

Alternatively, write to or phone:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 0303 123 1113

Yours sincerely

Peter Deja

=========================

MY ORIGINAL LETTER:

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

The Metropolitan Police successfully applied for further Home Office funding for Operation
Grange [search for Madeleine McCann] until ‘September 2018’. Today it
is 16 October 2018.

There was a recent statement by the Metropolitan
Police reported in sections of the media stating that the Met Police
had NOT yet applied for further funding.

Therefore please answer the
following questions:

1.  Has the Met Police applied for further
Home Office funding for Operation Grange?

2.  If so, when?

3.  If so, how much funding did they ask for and/or what period did
they specify for any extension to be sanctioned?

4.  Was any application for future funding supported by a written application
specifiying in detail how any further funding could help to find out
exactly what happened to Madeleine and/or identify, charge and
prosecute the person or persons responsible for her disappearance?

5.  If an application HAS been made to the Home Office, has the Met
Police received a reply yet? If so, when, and what was the reply?

Yours sincerely

by Doug D 19.12.18 17:57

Good to see the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

This should not be a review, they haven't answered the original request yet.

by **Tony Bennett** 21.12.18 13:33

Doug D wrote:Good to see the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

This should not be a review, they haven't answered the original request yet.

Yes!

But now this:

==========================

Information Rights Unit
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
United Kingdom

Our Ref: 01/FOI/18/000454

Date: 21/12/2018

Dear Mr Bennett

Freedom of Information Review Reference No: 01/FOI/18/000454

Further to our earlier correspondence dated 13/12/2018, I am now able to provide a response to your complaint concerning Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request reference number 2018100001063.

Section 10(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 states:

'Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a public authority must comply with section 1(1) promptly and in any event not later than the twentieth working day following the date of receipt.'

In the circumstances of your request, neither the information requested nor a refusal notice was provided to you within 20 working days. Therefore, the MPS have not complied with the requirements of Section 10 of the Act.

I have contacted the Information Manager (IM) with responsibility for your request and they have advised me that the delay in part has been caused by problems with their IT system which has meant that they have had to duplicate some of their enquiries. I am sorry for the inconvenience that the delay is causing you. The IM will endeavour to conclude your request as quickly as possible.

In the interim, the following links to the MPS Disclosure Log may be of interest to you:

https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/metropolitan-police/disclosure_2018/june_2018/information-rights-unit---total-cost-of-operation-grange

https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/metropolitan-police/disclosure_2018/june_2018/information-rights-unit---various-questions-about-operation-grange

https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/metropolitan-police/disclosure_2018/july_2018/information-rights-unit---return-flights-made-by-offences-on-operation-grange-in-201718

As a response to your request is currently outstanding, I am unable to complete a full internal review in relation to your request. However, should you be dissatisfied with the MPS response to your request, you may request an internal review in relation to the decision.

I would like to take this opportunity to apologise on behalf of the MPS for any inconvenience caused by the time taken to respond to your Freedom of Information Act request.

The progress of your request will continue to be monitored.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of this Internal Review you have the right to appeal the decision by contacting the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the FOIA.

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

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 0303 123 1113

Yours sincerely

Yvette Taylor

by Doug D 10.01.19 17:20

FoI comments on other thread reminded my about this one Tony requested on 16^thOctober 2018.

‘The IM (Information Manager) will endeavour to conclude your request as quickly as possible.’

Although we now know most of the answers, they have still not answered in spite of their groveling apology and it looks like they are putting the onus on Tony to do something (read responses and update status?).

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/up_to_date_information_on_operat#outgoing-827352

by **Tony Bennett** 13.02.19 16:38

Patience is a virtue.

The Met Police have at last replied to my FOI Act request re Operation Grange dated 16 October.

That means it took them a total of 78 working days.

The law requires them to provide an answer within 20 working days unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Here are the answers. I have bolded a few words I thought were significant.

====================================================

Up-to-date information on Operation Grange (Madeleine McCann Investigation)

Reply from Met Police 13 February 2019

Find us at: Facebook: [1]https://m.facebook.com/metpoliceuk

Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Dear Mr. Bennett,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2018100001063

I write in connection with your request for information which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 16/10/2018. I note you seek access to the following: [SEE BELOW – TB]

I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise for the delay in getting this information to you and for any inconvenience this may have used.

SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted by Operation Grange. The searches located information relevant to your request.

DECISION

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Question One

The current funding runs out on 31st March 2019.

Question Two

Funding was applied for in October 2018.

Question Three

The MPS requested £150,000 from the Home Office in order to continue with enquiries.

Question Four

The application for future funding was not supported by any written application.

Question Five

A verbal agreement was received from the Home Office around October 2018.

For your information, we have located the following recorded information from our press system:

On 13 November 2018 a Home Office spokesperson said: "We have confirmed that Special Grant funding of £150,000 will be provided to the Metropolitan Police Service for the six-month period to 31 March 2019."

The MPS said the following on 25 September:

"IF ASKED: All funding matters regarding Operation Grange are dealt with by the Home Office, but the MPS are currently in dialogue with the HO regarding future funding."

Hope this information is of help.

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

Yours sincerely

Lisa Murphy
Information Rights Unit

====================================================

TB’s original questions

The Metropolitan Police successfully applied for further Home Office funding for Operation Grange [search for Madeleine McCann] until ‘September 2018’. Today it is 16 October 2018.

There was a recent statement by the Metropolitan Police reported in sections of the media stating that the Met Police had NOT yet applied for further funding.

Therefore please answer the following questions:

1. Has the Met Police applied for further Home Office funding for Operation Grange?
2. If so, when?
3. If so, how much funding did they ask for and/or what period did they specify for any extension to be sanctioned?
4. Was any application for future funding supported by a written application specifiying in detail how any further funding could help to find out exactly what happened to Madeleine and/or identify, charge and prosecute the person or persons responsible for her disappearance?
5. If an application HAS been made to the Home Office, has the Met Police received a reply yet? If so, when, and what was the reply?

Yours faithfully,

Anthony Bennett

by Guest 14.02.19 7:21

I'm betting another extension from 31st March.

by plebgate 14.02.19 8:57

Given that it was reported in the papers that Dick, Head of the Met has said along the lines that they will never stop the search for Maddie there will be extension after extension presumably.

Meanwhile the rest of us can pay our taxes and ROT.

by **PeterMac** 14.02.19 9:02

£ 150,000 granted without any documentation . . . ?
Can we believe that ? How are the auditors supposed to follow the Audit trail.

It smacks of Mitchells "Brown Envelopes". Even Sir Humphrey wouldn't have done this.
But is may be a rich lode for further FOI requests.

by **Tony Bennett** 14.02.19 10:27

PeterMac wrote:£ 150,000 granted without any documentation . . . ?
Can we believe that ? How are the auditors supposed to follow the Audit trail.

It smacks of Mitchells "Brown Envelopes". Even Sir Humphrey wouldn't have done this.
But is may be a rich lode for further FOI requests.

Inside the Belgravia Police Station...DCI Nicola Wall makes a telephone call to Mike Boggins, a senior civil servant in the Home Office...

MB: "Hallo?"

NW: "Nikki here from Grange - can I have another 150 grand for the next 6 months please?"

MB: "Done"

NW: "Cheerio"

THE END

by sar 14.02.19 12:20

....informal, chatty, upbeat even, nice!

FINAL REPLY received 13 Feb 2019 FOI Act Question on Operation Grange, Oct 2018, Interim Reply

FINAL REPLY received 13 Feb 2019 FOI Act Question on Operation Grange, Oct 2018, Interim Reply

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: FINAL REPLY received 13 Feb 2019 FOI Act Question on Operation Grange, Oct 2018, Interim Reply

Re: FINAL REPLY received 13 Feb 2019 FOI Act Question on Operation Grange, Oct 2018, Interim Reply

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: FINAL REPLY received 13 Feb 2019 FOI Act Question on Operation Grange, Oct 2018, Interim Reply

Re: FINAL REPLY received 13 Feb 2019 FOI Act Question on Operation Grange, Oct 2018, Interim Reply

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: FINAL REPLY received 13 Feb 2019 FOI Act Question on Operation Grange, Oct 2018, Interim Reply

Re: FINAL REPLY received 13 Feb 2019 FOI Act Question on Operation Grange, Oct 2018, Interim Reply

Re: FINAL REPLY received 13 Feb 2019 FOI Act Question on Operation Grange, Oct 2018, Interim Reply

Re: FINAL REPLY received 13 Feb 2019 FOI Act Question on Operation Grange, Oct 2018, Interim Reply

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: FINAL REPLY received 13 Feb 2019 FOI Act Question on Operation Grange, Oct 2018, Interim Reply

Latest topics