Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service
- Date 15 May 2012
- Sector Police and criminal justice
- Decision(s) FOI 23: Not upheld
The complainant asked the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for any Special Branch files it held relating to the student demonstration on 24th November 1988, which ended with a confrontation on Westminster Bridge. The MPS relied on a number of exemptions within the Freedom of Information Act to refuse to confirm whether or not it held such information, including section 23(5) which concerns the security bodies. The Commissioner has decided that the MPS is entitled to rely on this exemption to refuse to confirm whether or not it holds Special Branch files of the nature requested.