Drone Technology - Procurement, Expenditure and Usage
Keywords
Contracts, Manufacturers, Suppliers, Provision, Drone, Technology, Description, Value, Duration, Extensions, Award, Date, Expiry, Procured, Limitations, Amount, Spent, Technical, Team, Policies, Regulations, Civil Aviation Authority, Airspace, Restrictions.
Publication Number
PUB 1353
FOI Reference Number
16429
Request Title
Contracts for Drone Technology
Date Range
2018 to 2020
Information Requested
Please provide a list of contracts that have been awarded by Essex Police to manufacturers and/or suppliers for the provision of drone technology within the last five financial years, to include the following information:
1. The name of the manufacturer and/or supplier in each contract.
2. A description of each contract.
3. The value of each contract.
4. The duration of each contract, including any available extensions.
5. The award date of each contract.
6. The expiry date of each contract.
Disclosure with Exemptions
Part Disclosure with Section 23, Section 24 and Section 31 Exemptions
Information Correct as at
N/A
Date of Disclosure
14 December 2021
Related Documents/Links
FOI 16429 Response
Having completed enquiries within Essex Police in respect of Section 1(1)(a), Essex Police does not hold information relating to your request.
To provide some explanation and to meet our duty to assist under Section 16 of the FOIA, Essex Police can advise:
Essex Police do not have any formally procured drone contracts, we use a variety of suppliers. The amount spent by Essex Police since 2018 on drone technology is listed below:
2018 – 2019 01 April – 31 March - £60,149.57
2019 – 2020 01 April – 31 March - £3,896.84
2020 – 2021 01 April – 31 March - £8,182.70.
In addition to the above, Essex Police can neither confirm nor deny any other information is held in regard to the covert use of drones by virtue of the following exemptions:
Section 23(5) Information Relating to the Security Bodies
Section 24(2) National Security
Section 31(3) Law Enforcement
Harm in Confirming or Denying that Information is Held
As you will be aware, disclosure under the FOIA is a release to the public at large. Whilst not questioning the motives of the applicant, confirming or denying that any other information is held regarding the use of drones for covert purposes, would show criminals what the capacity, tactical abilities and capabilities of the force are, allowing them to target specific areas of the UK to conduct their criminal/terrorist activities. Confirming or denying the specific circumstances in which the Police Service may or may not deploy drones, would lead to an increase of harm to covert investigations and compromise law enforcement. This would be to the detriment of providing an efficient policing service and a failure in providing a duty of care to all members of the public.
The threat from terrorism cannot be ignored and it is well established that Police forces use covert tactics and surveillance to gain intelligence in order to counteract criminal behaviour. As such, it has been previously documented in the media that many terrorist incidents have been thwarted due to intelligence gained by these means.
Confirming or denying that Essex Police hold any other information in relation to the covert use of drones, or unmanned aerial devices, would limit operational capabilities as criminals/terrorists would gain a greater understanding of the Police forces’ methods and techniques, enabling them to take steps to counter them. It may also suggest the limitations of Police capabilities in this area, which may further encourage criminal/terrorist activity by exposing potential vulnerabilities. This detrimental effect is increased if the request is made to several different law enforcement bodies. In addition to the local criminal fraternity now being better informed, those intent on organised crime throughout the UK, will be able to ‘map’ where the use of certain tactics are or are not deployed. This can be useful information to those committing crimes. It would have the likelihood of identifying location-specific operations which would ultimately compromise Police tactics, operations and future prosecutions as criminals could counteract the measures used against them.
Any information identifying the focus of policing activity could be used to the advantage of terrorists or criminal organisations. Information that undermines the operational integrity of these activities will adversely affect public safety and have a negative impact on both National Security and law enforcement.
Public Interest Test
Factors favouring Confirming or Denying for Section 24
Any further information, if held simply relates to National Security and confirming or denying whether it is held would not actually harm it. The public are entitled to know what public funds are spent on and what security measures are in place and by confirming or denying whether any other information regarding the covert use of drones is held, would lead to a better informed public.
Factors against Confirming or Denying for Section 24
By confirming or denying whether any other information is held would render security measures less effective. This would lead to the compromise of ongoing or future operations to protect the security or infra-structure of the UK and increase the risk of harm to the public.
Factors favouring Confirming or Denying for Section 31
Confirming or denying whether any other information is held regarding the covert use of drones would provide an insight into Essex Police. This would enable the public to have a better understanding of the effectiveness of the Police and about how the Police gather intelligence. It would greatly assist in the quality and accuracy of public debate, which could otherwise be steeped in rumour and speculation. Where public funds are being spent, there is a public interest in accountability and justifying the use of public money.
Some information is already in the public domain regarding the Police use of this type of specialist equipment and confirming or denying whether any other information is held would ensure transparency and accountability and enable the public to see what tactics are deployed by the Police Service to detect crime.
Factors against Confirming or Denying for Section 31
Confirming or denying that any other information is held regarding the covert use of drones would have the effect of compromising law enforcement tactics and would also hinder any future investigations. In addition, confirming or denying methods used to gather intelligence for an investigation would prejudice that investigation and any possible future proceedings.
It has been recorded that FOIA releases are monitored by criminals and terrorists and so to confirm or deny any other information is held concerning specialist covert tactics would lead to law enforcement being undermined. The Police Service is reliant upon all manner of techniques during operations and the public release of any modus operandi employed, if held, would prejudice the ability of the Police Service to conduct similar investigations.
By confirming or denying whether any other information is held in relation to the covert use of drones would hinder the prevention or detection of crime. Essex Police would not wish to reveal what tactics may or may not have been used to gain intelligence as this would clearly undermine the law enforcement and investigative process. This would impact on Police resources and more crime and terrorist incidents would be committed, placing individuals at risk. It can be argued that there are significant risks associated with providing information, if held, in relation to any aspect of investigations or of any nation's security arrangements so confirming or denying that any information is held, may reveal the relative vulnerability of what we may be trying to protect.
Balance Test
The security of the country is of paramount importance and Essex Police will not divulge whether any information is or is not held regarding the covert use of drones if to do so would place the safety of an individual at risk, undermine National Security or compromise law enforcement.
Whilst there is a public interest in the transparency of policing operations and providing assurance that Essex Police is appropriately and effectively engaging with the threat posed by various groups or individuals, there is a very strong public interest in safeguarding the integrity of Police investigations and all areas of operations carried out by Police forces throughout the UK.
As much as there is public interest in knowing that policing activity is appropriate and balanced this will only be overridden in exceptional circumstances. The use of drones in any covert capacity is a sensitive issue that would reveal Police tactics and, therefore, it is our opinion that for these issues the balancing test for confirming or denying whether any information is held regarding the covert use of drones is not made out.
However, this should not be taken as necessarily indicating that any information that would meet any future request exists or does not exist.
Essex Police suggests that you may find the below links of interest:
FOI Reference Number
16443
Request Title
Drone Technology Spend and Limitations 2018-2021
Date Range
2018 to 2021
Information Requested
I'm writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) to ask that you please disclose the amount spent, since 2018, on drone technology for your constabulary. I'd also like the names of the providers given, and details of the limitations on how this technology can be used please.
Disclosure with Exemptions
Full Disclosure
Information Correct as at
29 November 2021
Date of Disclosure
15 December 2021
Related Documents/Links
FOI 16443 Response
Having completed enquiries within Essex Police in respect of Section 1(1)(a), Essex Police does hold information relating to your request, Essex Police can confirm in respect of Section 1(1)(b) the following data:
Caveat: The data is correct as at 29 November 2021.
The amount spent since 2018 on drone technology.
The amount spent by Essex Police since 2018 on drone technology is listed below:
2018 – 2019 01 April – 31 March - £60,149.57
2019 – 2020 01 April – 31 March - £3,896.84
2020 – 2021 01 April – 31 March - £8,182.70
The names of the providers given.
We use a variety of suppliers.
Details of the limitations on how this technology can be used.
We have interpreted this question to relate to the technical limitations of the equipment. The Essex Police Drone Team comply with all of the policies and regulations as set out by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA also publishes details about airspace restrictions.
Essex Police suggests that you may find the below links of interest: