NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Police Station, 60 High Street, Burntisland KY3 9AS

Tel: +44 (0)1592 251132 Fax: +44 (0)1592 418444

email: [email protected]

Norma Graham Q.P.M. Your Ref: Mark Hunt [request-104404- [email protected]] Our Ref: F203/2012 Date: 29th February 2012

Dear Mr Hunt

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION () ACT 2002

Further to your email dated 1st February 2012, requesting information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. I can advise you as follows.

The attached spreadsheet provides details of marked vehicles used by Fife Constabulary including the make, model, registration plate and which department uses the vehicle or its location of use.

Fife Constabulary's policing area can be described as generally rural and the resources available to the force are limited. Disclosure of information about the particular location of a marked police vehicle may prejudice police activities. The disclosure of location information would reveal what resources are available for a given area. This information will enable police strength to be determined and be circumvented by those intent on crime. For example, the location of a vehicle in one area may be evidence of a lack of cover in another area, depending on total resources available. This is particularly relevant in a rural area such as Fife, rather than in urban environments. This type of information is of benefit to those intent on criminal activity, which is not in the public interest.

Similarly, disclosure of information pertaining to the use or function (e.g. the unit to which the vehicle is attached) may reveal operationally sensitive details. This might include the fact that a particular vehicle is used specialist officers, and being able to identify its presence at (or absence from) a particular location may be useful to those intent on criminal activity. Again, the harm is evident in providing the detailed information you seek due to the limited number of resources available to Fife Constabulary.

The disclosure of specific locations and the purpose for all vehicles would be detrimental to the effective policing activities of Fife Constabulary and be of benefit to the criminal fraternity, which is not in the public interest. An exemption applies in terms of Section 35 Law enforcement (1) (a) and (b) Freedom of Information applies in this case.

To assist, I have included as much information as possible in the spreadsheet without compromising public safety and the effectiveness of Fife Constabulary. Further information relating to the different departments within Fife Constabulary can be found on the force web site.

I hope this information is of benefit to you, but if you require any further clarification or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me either at the address or the email address at the top of this letter.

If you are not satisfied with the way in which I have dealt with your request, you are entitled, in the first instance, to request a review of the decision made by the Force. Should you wish to request such a review, please write to me within 40 working days of receiving this letter. If, after having been informed of the review panel's decision, you are still not satisfied, you are then entitled to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision within six months of the date of receipt of the review response.

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Contact details are: Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, , Fife, KY16 9DS, telephone 01334 464 610.

Yours sincerely,

Scott Johnston Freedom of Information Officer

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED