FOI - Sadiq Khan's attendance at Liverpool FC [Oct 2024]

Request:  

The mayor of London recently travelled to Liverpool to watch their 3-0 victory against Bournemouth on Saturday, September 21.

1. Where did the mayor travel from at the beginning of the journey? and the lead up to that journey?
2. How many vehicles were involved in the convey and what type of vehicles were they?
3. Did these vehicles travel from the London area and when?
4. How long was his appearance at the match scheduled for behind him?
5. Who attended the ground with the mayor at Anfield?
6. Were any meetings cancelled or postponed arranged with the mayor, due to the mayor attending?

Response:

Q1- 3

The GLA can neither confirm nor deny whether it holds the information that you have requested as the duty in Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) in relation to the following exemptions: Section 31(3) Law Enforcement Section 38(2) Health and Safety.

These provisions of the Act have been engaged in relation to duty to either confirm or deny whether the GLA does or does not hold information covered by your request.

Section 31(3) provides that we are not required to confirm or deny whether or not we hold information where to do so would prejudice the prevention or detection of crime (Section 31(1)(a)). These provisions can be applied in instances where either confirming or denying the existence of the requested information would prejudice the ability of the GLA to employ appropriate security measures to protect its premises, property, staff and guests.

Section 38(2) provides that we are not required to confirm or deny whether or not we hold information where to do so would endanger the safety of any individual, as set out above. Confirming or denying whether or not the GLA does, or does not, hold information relating to this request would imply whether or not any vehicle is, or is not, used by the Mayor of London or any other member of staff. Such a statement would therefore provide useful information to potential criminals about the steps the GLA takes to protect its premises, property, staff and guests. This would allow them to take steps to avoid these measures, thereby prejudicing our ability to prevent, detect and deter criminal acts. Because the request specifically refers to information about vehicles allegedly used by the Mayor of London, any confirmation or denial about whether or not this is indeed the case would identify what measure are or are not in place. Such a statement could then be used by determined individuals to locate and potentially target any vehicles which may or may not be used by the Mayor, or any other member of staff, and thereby endanger his wellbeing and physical safety.

None of these considerations however should be taken as confirmation that any such information on this subject is or is not held by the GLA.

• Considerations in favour of confirming whether the information is held: The GLA acknowledges there is a legitimate interest in the GLA being transparent and accountable. The GLA is also mindful of the assumption in favour of disclosure in 2(2)(b) of the FOIA.
• Considerations in favour of maintaining the exclusion of the duty to either confirm or deny: There is a strong public interest in not making any public statement that confirms or denies the existence of information that would be likely to prejudice the ability to detect and prevent crime, or endanger the health and safety of any individual. In this case, the public interest in maintaining the exclusion of the duty to confirm or deny outweighs the public interest in confirming or denying whether we hold the information in question. Please note that this rationale is supported by the Information Commissioners Office: FOIA-EIR decision notice template (ico.org.uk)

4. We do not understand this question. Once you have clarified your request, I will be able to begin to process your request. Under section 1(3) of the Freedom of Information Act, a public authority need not comply with a request unless any further information reasonably required to locate the information is supplied. If this part of your request relates to security arrangements, then the exemptions applied to questions 1-3 will also apply.

5. One member of GLA staff attended with the Mayor.

6. No.