Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service

The complainant has requested information about the late Cyril Smith from the Metropolitan Police Service (the “MPS”). The MPS confirmed it was currently undertaking a related investigation but would neither confirm nor deny anything further citing sections 23(5) (information supplied by or concerning security bodies), 30(3) (criminal investigations), 31(3) (law enforcement) and 40(5) (personal information). Having considered all the circumstances the Commissioner has concluded that the public interest in the maintenance of section 30(3) outweighs the public interest in confirmation or denial in response to all parts of the request. The MPS was not, therefore, obliged to confirm or deny whether it holds this information. Given this conclusion, it has not been necessary to go on to consider the other exemptions cited. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2015/0185 dismissed.