Cost of August Riots

I am writing to ask whether you hold information about the cost of the August riots to your force, in terms of the overtime you have had to pay to officers.

If you do, could you please provide me with answers to the following questions:

1. What was the total cost of paying overtime to officers deployed to riot-hit areas in August?

2. How many officers were deployed on riot duty?

3. As of September 21, how many officers are still working on trying to identify rioters?

In accordance with section 1(1) (b) of the Act our response is provided below;

Question 1. This is information that is intended for future publication and is therefore exempt information in accordance with Section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The ACPO lead for Finance and Resources is collating all the information relating to the costs associated with the recent riots. This will be published in due course once the costs have been agreed etc. Until such time the costs cannot be confirmed.

As the intention to publish has been documented by ACPO, Section 22 Information Intended for Future Publication is relevant for this request relating to the costs. This exemption is concerned with the timing of the release of information. It is not concerned with the suitability of the content for release.

Whereas there is public interest in the costs incurred by various bodies in dealing with the disorder that same public interest will not be served by releasing information piecemeal. This is especially so where the information is as yet incomplete and a full picture cannot be given at this time. The public interest will be better served when the full picture can be disclosed. In all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure at this time.

Question 2. 27

Question 3. None