FOI - NYE 23-24 Ticketing [Mar 2024]

Your request 

1. How many tickets were sold for the New Year's Eve fireworks display 2023? 
2. What was the maximum capacity for the New Year's Eve fireworks display 2023? 
3. How many refunds have been given to ticket holders for the New Year's Eve fireworks display 2023?
4. How many people were turned away for having fake tickets at the New Year's Eve fireworks display 2023?
5. Can you please also share any documents relating to crowd management and safety, for example the security policies and traffic schemes, that were in place ahead of the New Year's Eve fireworks display 2023

Our response

1. A total of 106,696 tickets were sold for the display.
2. The maximum ticketed capacity for the event was the same as the number of tickets sold, 106,696.
3. Refunds for the event are still being verified so the total is not known at this time. 
4. We do not hold information on the numbers of people turned away with fake tickets.
5. All stewards had access to a digital version of the event handbook which included detail on all ticket viewing areas and the location of the entrances to enable them to direct ticketholders. Staff received a printed, position specific, brief detailing their role, any messaging and a location specific CAD plan. Staff were given a verbal general event briefing and a position specific briefing from their supervisor. Staff had contact with Event Control via their supervisors throughout the event to ensure any changes to the plan or messaging could be communicated.

I can confirm that we are unable to disclose the information given to staff regarding queue management for the following reasons: Information withheld from disclosure under Section 24(1), Section 31(1)(a) and Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act. 

The information relates to event safety and security measures for the New Year’s Eve Event. Section 24(1) allows a public authority not to disclose information if it considers releasing the information would make the UK or its citizens more vulnerable to a national security threat. The GLA notes the relevance of the following paragraphs from the ICO’s guidance on section 24 of the Act:

(13) Safeguarding national security also includes protecting potential targets even if there is no evidence that an attack in imminent. (14) The Commissioner also recognises terrorists can be highly motivated and may go to great lengths to gather intelligence. This means there may be grounds for withholding what seems harmless information on the basis that it may assist terrorists when pieced together with other information they may obtain.

Previous terrorist attacks in London, Paris and across Europe highlight the heightened risk to the public and crowds at high profile areas of major cities such as London. We note the ICO has acknowledged the link between national security, counter terrorism activities and potential acts of terrorism. We believe that events such as New Year’s Eve are a realistic high‐profile target for potential acts of terrorism.

Section 31(1)(a) covers all aspects of the prevention and detection of crime and can apply to information on general policies and methods adopted by public authorities. Section 31(1)(a) of the Act is engaged because the release of this information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. The provisions of section 24(1) and Section 31(1(a) of the Act are engaged by information which could be used by those intent on committing criminal acts to harm the public.

Section 38(1)(b) of the Act is duly engaged because of the potential risk to public safety as set out in the Act.

Under FoIA the ‘public interest’ is not the same as what might be of interest to the public. In balancing the public interest in disclosure, we consider the greater good or benefit to the community if the information is released or not. The ‘right to know’ must be balanced against the need to enable effective government and to serve the best interests of the public.

There is a clear public interest in the release of information that helps demonstrate the work of public bodies involved in emergency planning. To help facilitate this understanding, there is a justifiable public interest in placing into the public domain information that would allow the public to assess the nature of the discussions that take place, the advice that is given and the way it is presented. Transparency of these decision-making processes will generate confidence in the integrity of the procedures involved.

Considerations favouring non-disclosure; Conversely the disclosure of this same information would increase the risk of criminal activity, violent crime, or other incidents at an event if made public and seen by those intent on causing harm. It is not in the public interest to release information that could be directly used to harm or plan harm to the public.

The information withheld from disclosure is not key to understanding the event itself and may be replicated in part for administering future events. We have determined that safeguarding national security interests, avoiding prejudice to policing operations to prevent and detect crime, and protecting the safety of the public attending the events in London is of paramount importance. The public interest favours maintaining the exemption provisions of s.24(1), s.31(1)(a), s.38(1)(b) and s.43(2) in relation the redacted and withheld information.