2022/25130 - Immigration Raids/Plain Clothed Officers

REQUEST

 

Please provide the following:

 

1. a) The number of immigration raids participated in by members of your force in each year from 2017 to 2022 (inclusive). (By "participated", I mean to include the raids carried out solely by members of your force, and those in support of Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE). If it is possible to indicate the number where the force was supporting ICE and the number carried out solely by police, please do so, but if this would exceed the FOIA cost exemption then an overall figure will suffice).

 

 

1. b) The number of arrests for immigration offences carried out by your force in each year from 2017 to 2022 (inclusive).

 

 

2. a) The number of officers who operated as plain clothes officers in each year from 2017 to 2022 (inclusive). If you hold the data for the total number of times officerswere deployedas plain clothes officers in each year please include it, but if obtaining this would exceed the time/cost exemption under FOIA then a total number of officers for each year will suffice.

 

 

2. b) The number of unmarked vehicles owned by your force in each year from 2017 to 2022 (inclusive). For the purposes of this question, "unmarked" refers to the vehicles equipped for police deployments.

 

 

 

RESPONSE

 

1. a) The number of immigration raids participated in by members of your force in each year from 2017 to 2022 (inclusive). (By "participated", I mean to include the raids carried out solely by members of your force, and those in support of Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE). If it is possible to indicate the number where the force was supporting ICE and the number carried out solely by police, please do so, but if this would exceed the FOIA cost exemption then an overall figure will suffice).

 

Immigration raids will be conducted by the Home Office immigration enforcement department and therefore we do not hold the information that is being sought. This enquiry should be re-directed to the Home Office immigration enforcement department.

 

1. b) The number of arrests for immigration offences carried out by your force in each year from 2017 to 2022 (inclusive).

 

The information below shows the footfall figures for custody for the offences listed below. If someone has been arrested for multiple offences, they will only be counted once however if they are arrested on multiple separate occasions, they will be counted multiple times. The following offences have been included;

 

• Fail to comply with notification requirements of Sec 108(1). Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
• Fail to comply with requirements re notification of changes under Sec 109(1) or 6(b). Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
• Fail to comply with requirements of periodic notifications under Sec 110(1). Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
• Fail to permit the taking of fingerprints and/or photographs as required by Sect 112(4). Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
• Fail to comply with any regulation made under Sec 111. Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
• Person Who Provides Immigration Advice Or Services In Contravention Of Sec 79 (Provision Of Immigration Services) Or Of Restraining Order
• Person Who Provides Immigration Advice Or Services In Contravention Of Sec 79 (Provision Of Immigration Services) Or Of Restraining Order
• Assisting Unlawful Immigration To Member State
• Assisting Unlawful Immigration To Member State
• Immigration Stamp
• Immigration Stamp
• Unable to produce an immigration document at a leave or asylum interview in respect of himself
• Unable to produce an immigration document at a leave or asylum interview in respect of a dependent child
• Employing a person subject to immigration control who has attained the age of 16
• Employing a person knowing that they are an adult subject to immigration control who has not been granted leave to enter or remain, or whose leave to remain is invalid etc.
• Wrongful disclosure of information in breach of SS.15(1), 15(2) or 17(1) of Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009
• Without authority disclose / use information. (Access to Justice Act 1999 as added by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 Para 7(2) Sch 3.)
• Assault a designated immigration officer exercising S2 detention powers
• Assault an immigration officer
• Non-Citizen Fails To Observe Any Restrictions As To Residence Or To Reporting To Police Or An Immigration Officer
• Refusing Or Failing Without Reasonable Excuse To Submit To An Examination By An Immigration Officer
• Refusing Or Failing Without Reasonable Excuse To Produce Documents Or Information To Immigration Officer Or Medical Inspector
• Making False Statement, Return Or Representation To An Immigration Officer Etc
• Without Authority Altering Any Certificate Of Partiality, Entry Clearance, Work Permit Or Other Document Made Under, Or For The Purpose Of The Immigration Act 1971
• Having Possession Of Any Passport, Certificate Of Partiality, Entry Clearance, Work Permit Or Other Document Made Under, Or For The Purpose Of The Immigration Act 1971 Which Is Known Or Is Reasonably Believed To Be False
• Without Reasonable Excuse Obstructs An Immigration Officer Or Other Person Lawfully Acting In The Execution Of The Immigration Act 1971
• Employing A Person Subject To Immigration Control Who Has Attained The Age Of 16
• Deliberate Failure Or Refusal Of A Sponsor To Maintain An Immigrant So That That Person Has To Rely On Support Arrangements Created Under Part VI
• Deliberate Failure Or Refusal Of A Sponsor To Maintain An Immigrant So That That Person Has To Rely On Support Arrangements Created Under Part VI
• Failure Without Reasonable Excuse To Submit To A Medical Examination (Immigrant)
• Obstruction of Immigration Services Commissioner in the exercise of a power by virtue of S 38
• Advertising or offering to provide immigration advice or services when unqualified
• Abscond from a designated immigration officer having been detained under S2
• Obstruct a designated immigration officer exercising S2 detention powers

 

Year	Footfall
2017	8
2018	3
2019	2
2020	0
2021	1
2022	0

 

2. a) The number of officers who operated as plain clothes officers in each year from 2017 to 2022 (inclusive). If you hold the data for the total number of times officerswere deployedas plain clothes officers in each year please include it, but if obtaining this would exceed the time/cost exemption under FOIA then a total number of officers for each year will suffice.

 

Please see below table for the number of plain clothes officers (Detectives) in each year from 2017 to 2022.  We would not deploy uniformed officers as ‘Detectives’ as they do not have the recognised qualification required to complete the Detective role.

 

2. b) The number of unmarked vehicles owned by your force in each year from 2017 to 2022 (inclusive). For the purposes of this question, "unmarked" refers to the vehicles equipped for police deployments.

 

Section 31(1)(a)(b)-‘Law Enforcement’

 

The exemption applicable to the information you have requested for this question can be found at Section 31(1)(a)(b)-‘Law Enforcement’, of the Freedom of information Act 2000, and this refusal notice is issued under Section 17(5).

 

Harm

 

Disclosing certain types of vehicle would undermine policing tactics and operations by highlighting to members of the criminal fraternity the covert capability of the force and which forces, through mapping, where it would be ‘safe’ to travel in as much as the likelihood of being apprehended is reduced.

 

This would mean that the Force would be less able to detect and reduce crime on the roads or apprehend criminals. It would also provide awareness to terrorists who may wish to target the United Kingdom and want to travel using the road infrastructure. If such an attack took place this would undoubtedly lead to individuals’ health and safety being put at risk or may even result in death.

 

Section 31

 

Factors Favouring Disclosure

 

Disclosure would enhance the public’s knowledge about the capability of Gwent Police and the specific nature of the technology. There is a lot of contention over the use of particular types of vehicles as a system that is used to spy and monitor people’s activities.

 

Disclosure would aid the public’s understanding of how Gwent Police operates and for what direct purpose, stopping any incorrect rumours or falsehoods that may already exist.

 

Factors Favouring Non-Disclosure

 

The release of this information would compromise any on-going criminal investigations, or proceedings, which make use of the data produced by particular types of vehicle. In addition, the technology can be used in combating acts of terrorism but also in the prevention and detection of crime and in the reduction of death and injury on the roads. Therefore, if the details of particular vehicles were disclosed, their capability to prevent such activity would be compromised. Release of the information would mean that the role in the prevention and detection of crime would be compromised. The safety of the public is of paramount importance to the policing purpose, and an increase in crime would place the public at risk of harm.

 

Balancing Test

 

Disclosure of information that would have a serious negative impact on the security of the whole of the United Kingdom and would not be beneficial.

Weakening the mechanisms used to monitor any type of criminal activity, and specifically terrorist activity would place the security of the country in an increased level of danger.

 

Information disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act is made public when released and has an impact on all areas of the country, not just within the Gwent Police jurisdiction. Disclosure of particular vehicles used within this area would mean that any subsequent FOI request for other areas would be treated similarly. A series of disclosures for this information would mean that terrorists and criminals would be able to build up a picture of where such technology was deployed throughout the whole country. Disclosure of such information at a national level would encourage those with criminal intent to relocate and intensify their activities to areas that is less well covered as they would have a renewed level of confidence in evading detection.

 

Having considered all the factors at this moment in time it is our opinion that for these issues the balancing test for disclosure is not made out and the exemptions are engaged.