Three late goals as Sunderland recover from 2 down to beat Liverpool in November 1894

En route to wining the League title, Sunderland beat Liverpool in November 1894. 

24^th November  1894                                                                        League Division One

                   SUNDERLAND   3                                   LIVERPOOL   2

 (Hannah 75,Campbell 82,Gillespie 88)                 (McLean 35,Bradshaw 45)

Referee Mr                                                                                                Attendance 8,000

Sunderland:-- Doig, Meehan, Johnstone, Dunlop, McCreadie, Wilson, Gillespie, Millar,  Campbell, Hyslop, Hannah(J).

Liverpool:- McQueen, Curran, McLean(D), McCartney, McQue, McLean(JG), McVean, Ross, Bradshaw, Hannah(D), Drummond.

Liverpool arrived on Wearside with just about the worst record in the league and yet they came close to accomplishing what no side has done this season with what can only be described as a remarkable performance. This was Liverpool’s first visit to Newcastle Rd and although they were distinctly inferior to Sunderland they scored 2 goals in the 1^st half and prevented Sunderland from scoring. In fact they led 2-0 until 15 minutes from time when Sunderland got their 1^st goal and then went on to score 2 more to pull the game out of the fire.

The wild scenes when the winning goal was scored have never been seen on the ground before and the many home supporters who had already left the ground in disgust would be amazed to hear that Sunderland had won on reaching home. If ever Sunderland looked like losing it was here. Rain had fallen during the morning making the turf very greasy and the Scotch mist which hung around the ground together with the smoke from the nearby railway made the light very bad indeed. In the circumstances the attendance of quite 8,000 people was excellent.

Liverpool arrived on Friday night and stayed at the Temperance Hotel in Roker and included Curran at full back in place of Andrew Hannah. Sunderland were unchanged with McNeill still unfit. Liverpool kicked off attacking the Newcastle Rd end and some good passing by the home forwards quickly forced a corner. Hyslop got in a shot that Mclean deflected for another corner which Meehan dropped into the goalmouth where J Hannah put a good chance over the bar. McQueen saved soon afterwards and then Ross got away and Johnstone found him a hard nut to crack. 

Eventually the Sunderland man got the better of the tussle and placed the ball through to Campbell whose hard shot forced McQueen into a save. Sunderland pressed strongly and kept the ball in close proximity to the Liverpool goal but the visitors defence was sound with McQueen kicking away several times in capital style. Gillespie put in a clever run and was looking dangerous when he was barged over by Mclean who cleared. After Curran cleared a shot from Millar Ross dashed away and slipped the ball to Bradshaw. 

A bit of neat passing followed but then they ran the ball out of play. Sunderland were quickly back at the other end and got a free kick that enabled them to mount a hot attack until Hannah got caught offside. Hyslop sent in a grand shot that looked a winner until McLean luckily got in the way. Ross was tackled by McCreadie who was in splendid form and when the ball ran loose another tussle ensued with Wilson until Ross finally secured the ball. He quickly passed to McLean whose hotshot went whizzing just wide.

Meehan hit a long dropping ball up to Campbell who raced away and looked certain to score until Mclean overhauled him to get in a fine tackle. As the ball ran loose McQueen dashed out and kicked away as McLean held onto Campbell just to make sure. It was certainly a foul but the referee would have none of it. Sunderland were awarded a free kick soon after but the ball was cleared to Bradshaw who raced off towards the home goal. McCreadie tackled him successfully and then yet another free kick was given against Liverpool.

Meehan wasted it by firing cleanly into the net. Curran saved his goal by heading a clinking shot from Millar over the bar but the corner came to nothing. J.Hannah got possession from the goal kick and sent the ball up to Campbell whose cross skimmed the head of Gillespie as it went behind. Sunderland maintained almost continuous pressure but could not get through although they were perhaps not as direct as they might have been. Millar missed by a few inches and then Liverpool raided as Sunderland seemed to relax their efforts for a while. 

D Hannah took advantage of a mistake by Meehan and was looking dangerous until Dunlop checked him just in time. Drummond and Hannah were quickly back on the attack and Ross got in a good shot that Doig turned away for a corner. After 35 minutes a tricky run from D Hannah ended with him swinging the ball out to Mclean on the other wing and he cut inside and scored for Liverpool with a high shot. Buoyed up by their success Liverpool had the better of the exchanges for the next few minutes before Sunderland re-established their superiority.

They got a free kick and then a corner but failed to make any use of the advantage. J.Hannah put over a deep cross that Millar blazed high over the bar and then following another Sunderland corner Millar missed again. Campbell tried a long range effort that McQueen saved and then Gillespie drove wastefully wide. Sunderland kept pressing and Gillespie sent in a splendid shot that deserved a better fate than to slide just wide. Despite all their efforts Sunderland were unable to find a way through and then Ross dashed away for Liverpool and was getting the better of Wilson when he was pulled down.

The free kick was whipped into the goalmouth where Bradshaw neatly headed past Doig to put Liverpool 2 up on the stroke of halftime. The home crowd were stunned into silence by this setback and Sunderland trooped from the field knowing they faced a mighty task to get back into the game. Liverpool began the 2^nd half full of confidence and pressed for some minutes whereas the home side seemed somewhat disorganised. At last Sunderland managed to break and McCreadie had a shot blocked by McCartney.

Another attack by the home forwards saw J Hannah get in a shot with no better success as Mclean headed out. Gillespie was fouled but the referee chose to ignore it as chance after chance was lost through poor shooting. A spell of midfield play followed with both sides resorting to rough and shady tactics. Eventually Sunderland got forward and Hyslop sent in a long shot that went wide. Very poor play by Meehan let in Drummond but he was bowled over before he could shoot. Gillespie made a splendid run but was deliberately fouled as he made his way into the penalty area.

Only an ordinary free kick was awarded when it should have been a penalty and Hyslops strong kick went wide. This seemed to dishearten Sunderland and when Drummond galloped away past Meehan things looked black for the home side but somehow they managed to clear the danger. Sunderland won a corner but they failed to improve on it and for all intents and purposes they were a well beaten team. All Sunderland’s attacks were beaten back and the long faces of Mr Watson and the home committee were a sight to see.

With 15 minutes to go there was a chink of light in Sunderland’s gloom when they were awarded a free kick. The ball was played in to Hannah and he hooked it over his head and watched in delight as it dropped into the net to reduce the arrears. Sunderland began to entertain hopes of a draw but Liverpool were still a force to be reckoned with and Bradshaw sent a shot past the post. With 8 minutes left Sunderland attacked again and Hyslop got the ball to Campbell who spun round and coolly slotted the ball past McQueen to level the scores. 

Pandemonium reigned and scores of people who had started to make their way home tried to return to their places. Roared on by the crowd Sunderland played like demons and Liverpool struggled desperately to keep them out. Sunderland won a corner that was taken by J Hannah and when the ball was curled in Gillespie got to it first and drove it past McQueen with 2 minutes left to send the home crowd into raptures. The scenes were almost indescribable with hats and sticks being thrown into the air and the cheers could be heard miles away.

Liverpool were stunned and protested unconvincingly against the goal to no avail. The excitement was intense and a free kick to Sunderland was sent out of play. The ball travelled quickly to the other end but Meehans a long kick had Sunderland pressing again. They were forced back and after the ball was kicked into touch the throw in gave Hyslop a chance but he put it wide. Sunderland launched a couple of brief raids but were unable to add to their score and when the whistle blew they had won a remarkable game by the odd goal  in 5.                                   (Newc Dly Ldr)

NHS staff out for second time in pay protest

Taken from http://Unitelive.org/pay-protest/

Pay up protest

NHS staff out for second time in pay protest 

Mark Metcalf, Monday, November 24th, 2014 

Unite NHS members in Greater Manchester were out in force today as they joined other health unions on the picket line in a dispute over pay.

The walkout between 7 am and 11 am was the second in five weeks. The large numbers involved demonstrated a clear signal to the government that those who keep the nation’s flagship institution running smoothly need to be properly rewarded for their efforts.

The Cameron-Clegg coalition has forced down NHS workers’ wages by 15 per cent since 2010. Worse is to come as after refusing to pay the measly one per cent pay rise recommended by the independent NHS pay review body, Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, has announced he will not be paying anything to NHS staff in England and Northern Ireland in 2015/16 either.

Such an approach stands in stark comparison to Wales where a cash strapped Labour administration has awarded a non-consolidated cash payment of £187 for this year and agreed to a one per cent increase in 2015-16.

In Scotland, trade unions successfully negotiated with the devolved government a one per cent consolidated pay rise this year and payment of an extra £300 to low paid workers.

“Faced with such a massive attack on our wages then what option have we been left with except to take strike action? asked biomedical scientist Liz Holland, a Unite workplace rep at the Manchester Royal Infirmary.

“We have MPs handing themselves an 11 per cent pay rise and yet we have those who save people’s lives getting poorer. We have members using food banks, running up debts and being forced to do multiple jobs.”

Dedicated hospital staff quickly formed picket lines at 7 am. Everyone was in a good mood, proud of standing up for themselves and a service they desperately want to see survive. In addition to Unite a further eight unions participated including the Royal College of Midwives, out for just the second time in 133 years. The strikers were buoyed by members of the public expressing support and the constant tooting of horns by passing drivers.

There was also a lively picket line at the Royal Oldham Hospital where Unite rep Gareth Griffiths said, “David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt don’t want NHS workers to be properly paid so that morale remains high and staff can maintain a proper work-life balance.

“They want to squeeze wages so that the NHS becomes increasingly attractive to a takeover by private companies. Privatisation is bound to lead long-term to people paying for their operations.”

“We are fighting for ourselves and the future of the NHS as a public institution,” added Liz Holland.

A Star Called Henry book review

“A Star Called Henry” by Roddy Doyle

Reviewed by Jim Mowatt, Unite Director of Education 

Asked often to suggest a “good book” to introduce someone (usually a young person) to politics, and the natural urge is to recommend E.P. Thompson’s The Making of the English Working Class.

Brilliant as it is, it is a wee bit heavy biscuits for those brand new to politics. So, recently I’ve been recommending NOVELS not TEXT BOOKS for the inquisitive learner. Of these the stand-out read is Roddy Doyle’s A Star Called Henry And here are my reasons.

It is a belting read. A roller coaster of a journey of a baby to young adulthood in the first quarter of the 20^th Century.  It is vivid, haunting, funny and mercilessly meticulous in the accounts of poverty and its embarrassments. North Dublin is infused with real politics, in real time with real people. And Henry Smart meets James Connelly and Michael Collins. 

And it’s utterly believable. The reader is introduced to the convoluted landscape of British politics – with the island of Ireland being an integral part of Great Britain – confronted by the confusions, contradictions and (the often) craziness of Republican politics in pre-revolutionary Ireland. Raw, heart rending and uplifting accounts of real events pepper the story of Henry Smart.

Doyle is a master craftsman of storytelling; he has a fabulous pedigree – including, most popularly, his “The Commitments”, “The Snapper” and “The Van” – (his Barrytown trilogy). Doyle can tell a story - and what a historical period in which to set this first instalment (*) of The Last Roundup series.

Grim and romantic, cruel and generous, full-blooded and intimate, you are transported into a Dublin and Ireland in political turmoil, intrigue and energy. Doyle compels you as the reader into having to understand the power struggles, the deceits and commitment of the political processes of a whole country about to tear itself apart.

The dialogue is fierce and funny; the characters riveting and the politics never in your face and never getting in the road of a great rollicking story. A real page turner.

This is a great student introduction to politics – a springboard for any student new to politics to follow-up, research and debate knowingly.

“A Star Called Henry” is a coping stone in the making of modern Ireland.

A Star Called Henry was published in 1999 and is volume 1 of The Last Roundup series. The second installment was published in 2004 and is called Oh, Play That Thing. It was followed by The Dead Republic in 2010. 

This book is set to be the UNITE book of the month for December 2014. 

Come and visit the site of the first domestic violence victim to be publicly commemorated

Come and visit the site of the first domestic violence victim to be publicly commemorated 

Ellen Strange was murdered by her husband on Holcombe Moor in January 1761 and following which her family and/or local people raised a pile of stones in her memory. The continued practice ever since of passers by adding another stone has ensured that the crime and Ellen has not been forgotten. In the absence of information to prove otherwise it is thus likely that Ellen Strange is the first domestic violence victim to be commemorated. 

On Sunday 30 November at 11.30am a group of trade unionists will visit the stones as part of an article for the Landworker magazine of Unite the union and the Rebel Road website of the union. If you would like to join them please get in touch or come along to Emmanuel Church, Holcombe, Ramsbottom, Bury, Greater Manchester BL8 4NB. Bring some walking shoes although the walk is not too strenuous. 

Mark Metcalf 07952 801783 or email at markcmetcalf@btinternet.com 

How Silsden resisted police brutality in 1911.

Silsden is a small town of 8,000 people between Keighley and Skipton in West Yorkshire. 

In 1911 local people objected to a very unpopular policeman whose arrest of a local man led to his imprisonment and following which there was a riot in which the police station was attacked and all its windows smashed. 

Taken from Daily Mirror, 10-04-1911. 

MOB ATTACK POLICE STATION

Stones and bottles hurled at windows, three constables being struck. 

‘As a result of the conviction by the Skipton Magistrates of a man named Hodgson, who was charged with assaulting a constable, a crowd of several hundred persons made a desperate attack late on Saturday night on the police station at Silsden, three rniles from Keighley. 

The fire “buzzer”  was set going, and a mob quickly gathered armed with stones, bottles and other missiles, with which they broke every window in the police station. Two or three constables were struck.’ 

An enterprising photographer who photographed the police station with its windows both smashed and boarded shortly after the incident later had them printed on postcards that he offered for sale. 

An article many years later in West Yorkshireman, the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police Newspaper, reported that in 1911 a petition had been sent to the then Home Secretary Winston Churchill complaining about the ‘attitude of the police officers.’ Although the village petitioners got no joy from Churchill they had the satisfaction of seeing the convicted man released early and the constable was transferred to another area. 

The site of the former police station is now occupied by premises belonging to BT. 

Many thanks to Melvyn Bradshaw of Silsden for his considerable help in assembling the information on this page.

Silsden lies on the Leeds and Liverpool canal. 

Cowdenbeath - the worst place in Britain to 'watch' football?

Entering the ground to watch Cowdenbeath play St Mirren in a pre-season friendly my six year old

son said to me "Dad you can't see the pitch." Not quite true but it is a long way away and it's hidden behind a sizeable fence that is required for safety reasons at the stock car racing that also takes place at Central Park.  If you do visit then try going in the seated areas. St Mirren won 4-1. 

Pictures of Mossley AFC's ground

I've visited a fair few new grounds this season and will be putting pictures of them online in next few days. Working backwards I visited Mossley last Saturday and saw Brighouse win there 3-2. The ground is over a hundred years old and sits in a very picturesque valley. I enjoyed some great craic with fans of both clubs and I'd recommend a visit.

London demonstration this Friday of IPCC by Orgreave Truth and Justice campaign

ORGREAVE TRUTH AND JUSTICE CAMPAIGN 

Press release - 11 November 2014 

LONDON DEMONSTRATION OF IPCC ON SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF SOUTH YORKSHIRE POLICE’S SELF-REFERRAL

The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC) is holding a London demonstration at the office of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BH on Friday 14 November between 12 and 2pm.

The event will mark the two years since the South Yorkshire Police's (SYP) self-referral to the IPCC about allegations of violent policing at the Orgreave coking plant on 18 June 1984.  

OTJC members are extremely disappointed at the length of time it has taken for the IPCC to come to a conclusion as to whether they will launch a full investigation into events on that day. We shall be making this clear when we meet, as agreed, with IPCC officials, including chairperson Dame Anne Owers, on November 14. 

On 18 June 1984, 95 miners were arrested at Orgreave after thousands of police officers – many in riot gear, with others on horseback - brutally assaulted miners participating in a strike aimed at defending jobs and mining communities. 

However when the subsequent court cases took place all of the charges – which included, in many cases, riot – were abandoned when it became clear that the oral and written evidence provided by the police was unreliable. Each prosecution had been supported by two police officers making near-identical statements. Later, SYP paid out £425,000 in compensation to 39 pickets in out of court settlements. Nevertheless, no police officers were disciplined for misconduct or charged for the injuries they caused to those they attacked.

It was in November 2012 that SYP referred itself to the IPCC to decide whether there should be a full investigation into what happened at Orgreave on 18 June and in the earlier picketing at the plant in May/June. 

The IPCC has thus had two years to conduct an investigation exercise. OTJC remains concerned that the IPCC has undertaken a very limited amount of work in collecting and collating information on events at Orgreave. Much of the information it now possesses has been supplied to it by the NUM, OTJC and solicitor Gareth Pierce. The OTJC therefore remains concerned that no officers will face charges of assault, perjury, perverting the course of justice and misconduct in a public office. 

In recent years a number of prominent individuals and organisations have described the IPCC as ‘not fit for purpose.’ The OTJC has not yet drawn the same conclusion but our demonstration will remind the organisation that we will not back away from campaigning for our primary demand, which is a full public inquiry. If the IPCC can help in this then they need to get a move on or if not then move aside as quickly as possible.

The OTJC meanwhile welcomes the decision by the Labour Party to launch its Justice for the Coalfields Campaign and calls on Ed Miliband to confirm that in the event of a Labour Government being elected in 2015 it will order a full public inquiry into events at Orgreave in 1984.  

The OTJC protest will start at 12 midday on 14 November outside the IPCC offices, 90 High Holborn, WC1V 6BH.

Details:- orgreavejustice@hotmail.com or ring 0114 2509510 http://otjc.org.uk/   

For comment on the day please contact Barbara on 07504 413829 or Mike on 07939 489257


* Sadly I can't personally make it as I am due to speak about the campaign at a Labour Party social event that evening in Leeds. 

Special branch exercise their own unique right to silence on records held on former Hackney community campaign group

Dear Mr Metcalf 

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2014100001720 

I write in connection with your request for information which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 20/10/2014.  I note you seek access to the following information:

Please could you confirm whether the Metropolitan Police holds or has ever held:

(a) a Special Branch file on Hackney Community Defence Association and/or the Colin Roach Centre, Hackney 

(b) a separate Special Branch file on the following campaigns coordinated by the Colin Roach Centre 

Justice for Patrick Quinn, Free Malcolm Kennedy. 
Justice for David Ewin. 
Justice for Andy Davey. 
Brian Higgins Defence Campaign. 
Justice for Mogous Abay.

 If these files have ever existed, please could you confirm their Special Branch file references.

If these files still exist, please provide me with copies of each file.”

DECISION

Before I explain the decisions I have made in relation to your request, I thought that it would be helpful to outline the parameters set out by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) within which a request for information can be answered. 

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 creates a statutory right of access to information held by public authorities. A public authority in receipt of a request must, if permitted, state under Section 1(a) of the Act, whether it holds the requested information and, if held, then communicate that information to the applicant under Section 1(b) of the Act. 
The right of access to information is not without exception and is subject to a number of exemptions which are designed to enable public authorities to withhold information that is unsuitable for release. Importantly the Act is designed to place information into the public domain, that is, once access to information is granted to one person under the Act, it is then considered public information and must be communicated to any individual should a request be received.

REASONS FOR DECISION

Section 17(1) of the Act provides:

(1)        A public authority which, in relation to any request for information, is to any extent relying on a claim that any provision in part II relating to the duty to confirm or deny is relevant to the request or on a claim that information is exempt information must, within the time for complying with section 1(1), give the applicant a notice which-

(a) states the fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question, and
(c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a Refusal Notice for this particular request. The Metropolitan Police Service can neither confirm nor deny that it holds the information you requested as the duty in s1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not apply, by virtue of the following exemptions:

Section 23(5) - Information supplied by, or concerning, certain security bodies
Section 24(2) - National Security
Section 30(3) - Criminal Investigations 
Section 31(3) - Law Enforcement
Section 40(5) - Personal Information

Section 23 - Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security matters 

(5) The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would involve the disclosure of any information (whether or not already recorded) which was directly or indirectly supplied to the public authority by, or relates to, any of the bodies specified in subsection (3).

This is an absolute exemption and I am therefore not required to complete a public interest test.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/23

Section 24 - National security 

 (2) The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, exemption from section 1(1)(a) is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/24

This is a qualified exemption for which I am required to conduct a public interest test and provide evidence of harm. 

Evidence of Harm 

In considering whether or not we hold the information, I have considered the potential harm that could be caused by disclosure.

National security is not defined in the Act. However in the case of the Norman Baker MP v. IC (2007) the House of Lords referred to the decision in Secretary of State for the Home Department v. Rehman (2001):
(i) national security  means ‘the security of the United Kingdom and its people’
(ii) the interests of national security are not limited to action by an individual which can be said to be ‘targeted at’ the UK, its system of government or its people
(iii) the protection of democracy and the legal and constitutional systems of the state is a part of national security as well as military defence
(iv) ‘action against a foreign state may be capable indirectly of affecting the security of the United Kingdom’
(v) ‘reciprocal co-operation between United Kingdom and other states in combating international terrorism is capable of promoting the United Kingdom’s national security’

Based on this definition national security encompasses a wide spectrum and it is our duty to protect the people within the UK.  Public safety is of paramount importance to the policing purpose and must be taken into account in deciding whether to disclose whether the information is or is not held.

To confirm or deny whether we hold any information, would allow interested parties to gain an upper hand and awareness of policing decisions used to safeguard national security. As you may be aware, disclosure under FOIA is a release to the public at large. Therefore, to confirm or deny that we hold any information concerning the Hackney Community Defence Association and/or the Colin Roach Centre, in addition to specified coordinated campaigns could potentially be misused proving detrimental to national security.

Confirming or denying whether any information is held would be of use to those who seek to disrupt police activity as it would, by process of elimination, enable individuals with the inclination to identify where specific people have or have not been subject of police tactics or investigations. 

To confirm  whether any information is held in respect of one piece of information  and then neither confirm nor deny whether another piece of information is held, is likely to lead the public to deduce that information is held where a NCND response is applied.  

Any information identifying the focus of policing activity could be used to the advantage of terrorists, extremist or criminal organisations.  Information that undermines the operational integrity of these operational activities (whether information is or is not held in this instance) will adversely affect public safety and have a negative impact on both national security and law enforcement. 

To confirm or deny whether any information is held particularly during a Counter Terrorism investigation would be extremely useful to those involved in terrorist activity, as it would enable them to ascertain what type of person or companies may or may not be monitored in any way, enabling those with criminal intent to ascertain whether they may or may not have evaded detection. It would also enable individuals to make mosaic requests which can then provide an overall picture as to who or what companies or people may be monitored in any way. This would enable individuals to evade detection and compromise the ability of the police to safeguard national security. 

It remains our position that under FOIA the MPS will not confirm or deny whether the MPS holds any information pertinent to your request. This would be counter effective to the safeguarding of national security, and increase the risk of crime if the MPS does not take a consistent approach to requests regarding information held from investigations whether they be monitoring of companies or individuals. An increase in crime which arises out of an inconsistent approach to the 'NCND' principle may lead to an escalation of criminal activity that could have a detrimental effect on national security and police intelligence.  

Public Interest Test 

Factors favouring confirmation or denial for S24 - The information simply relates to national security and disclosure would not actually harm it. The public are entitled to know how public funds are spent.

Factors against confirmation or denial for S24 - By disclosing any policing arrangements would render security measures less effective. This would lead to the compromise of ongoing or future operations to protect the security or infrastructure of the UK and increase the risk of harm to the public. To counter this, a full review of security measures would be needed and additional costs would be incurred. 

Balancing Test - Whilst there is a public interest in keeping everyone informed about security measures, there is also a duty to ensure public safety.  To confirm or deny whether information is held specific to your request could be detrimental to any current or future operations.  Therefore, after weighing up the competing interests I have determined that the balancing test for disclosure is not made out.  

Section 30 - Investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities

(3) The duty to confirm or deny does not arise in relation to information which is (or if it were held by the public authority would be) exempt information by virtue of subsection (1) or (2).

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/30

This is a qualified exemption for which I am required to conduct a public interest test. 

Public Interest Test

Factors favouring confirmation or denial for S30 – A statement confirming or denying whether or not information is held (e.g. whether the Hackney Community Defence Association and/or the Colin Roach Centre and its coordinated campaigns are or have been of interest to the police, or that any investigations have taken place) would enhance the transparency and accountability of the force and its operations.  This would provide an insight into the police service and enable the public to have better understanding of effectiveness of the police, particularly, in relation to the spending of public funds and the decisions taken by officers. This may also enhance public confidence in the police. 

If we confirmed or denied that Special Branch files were held this would allow the public to make informed decisions about how police gather intelligence. This would greatly assist in the quality and accuracy of public debate, which would otherwise likely be steeped in rumour and speculation.  

Factors against confirmation or denial for S30 – To confirm or deny the existence of any information in relation to the Hackney Community Defence Association and/or the Colin Roach Centre or campaigns it has coordinated, would disclose MPS practices used, thereby exposing operational procedures and investigative protocols.  Information relating to investigative tactics and protocol will rarely be disclosed under the Act and only where there is a strong public interest consideration favouring disclosure.  

To confirm or deny that this level of policing activity has or has not occurred in any specific area would enable those engaged in criminal or terrorist activity to identify the focus of policing activity and any tactics that may or may not be deployed.

To confirm or deny the existence of such information would also reveal policing tactics regarding who was of interest to the police generally.  This could be to the detriment of providing an efficient policing service and a failure in providing a duty of care to all members of the public.

By confirming or denying whether specific groups have been or are of interest to the Police would hinder the prevention or detection of crime. To disclose whether any information is held and how this has been obtained, such as in confidence, could prevent others from coming forward to give valuable evidence.  If it were believed that the MPS were unwilling to protect the anonymity of an individual, the public would be unwilling to provide assistance. The MPS would not wish to reveal who, what and when intelligence is recorded and the extent of their investigations as this would clearly undermine the law enforcement and investigative process. This would impact on police resources and more crime and terrorist incidents would be committed, placing individuals at risk.  

To confirm or deny that information is held, which may have been received in confidence, would allow those who had committed a crime to know where an investigation is directed and would lead to recognition of which individual may or may not be under investigation.  This knowledge may allow others to plan their activity to better try to evade detection.  

Confirmation or denial that any further information is held may hinder and undermine the partnership approach to law enforcement in this complex area. 

Balancing Test - Confirming or denying that any information is held, would reassure the public that any investigation is being or has been properly conducted and would allow for a greater understanding of how information is gathered. Confirming or denying that any information relevant to the request is held, would however, enable criminals/terrorists to identify the focus of policing activity and evade prosecution.  Therefore, by neither confirming or denying that information is held protects any ongoing investigation that the MPS may be conducting.  After weighing up the competing interests, I believe that the balance test favours neither confirmation or denial.

Section 31 - Law Enforcement

(1) Information which is not exempt information by virtue of section 30 is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice -

(a) the prevention or detection of crime,

(b) the apprehension or prosecution of offenders,

(3) The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, prejudice any of the matters mentioned in subsection (1).

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/31

This is a qualified exemption for which I am required to conduct a public interest test and provide evidence of harm.

Evidence of Harm 

To confirm or deny whether information is held relevant to this request could be detrimental to law enforcement.

FOIA is considered to be a release to the world as once the information is published the public authority, in this case the MPS, has no control over what use is made of that information.  Whilst not questioning the motives of the applicant it could be of use to those who seek to disrupt any police investigation as it would by a process of elimination, enable them to identify what level of policing activity is likely to take place and what tactics may or may not have been used.

The effect of this information being available to the applicant and more importantly those who might wish to disrupt Police tactics, would be a requirement for a full review of police tactics and possible increase in costs to the public purse.  These investigative tools have been tried and tested over a number of years and these methods have varied very little over the intervening years. 

To confirm or deny that the requested information is held or provide details relating to what may or may not be held may be to the detriment of providing an efficient policing service and a failure in providing a duty of care to all members of the public, and this would also impact upon any current  investigation.

Public Interest Test

Factors favouring confirmation or denial for S31 - Confirming or denying whether Special Branch files are held in relation to specific groups or individuals, the public would see where public funds have been spent and allow the Police service to appear more open and transparent.

Factors against confirmation or denial for S31 - By confirming or denying whether specific groups or individuals are or have been of interest to SO15, would mean that law enforcement tactics would be compromised which would hinder the prevention and detection of crime.  Security arrangements and tactics are re-used and have been monitored by criminal groups, fixated individuals and terrorists. These security arrangements and tactics would need to be reviewed which would require more resources and would add to the cost to the public purse.

Disclosure would technically be releasing sensitive operational information, if held, into the public domain, which would enable those with the time, capacity and inclination to try and map strategies used by the MPS. 

The MPS is reliant upon these techniques during operations and the public release of the modus operandi employed during the enquiries would prejudice the ability of the MPS to conduct similar investigations.

Additionally MPS resources and its ability to operate effectively and efficiently would directly be affected as this information, if held, could be manipulated by those with criminal intent to operate in those areas.

Balancing Test - After weighing up the competing interests I have determined that the disclosure of the requested information, if held, would not be in the public interest as by confirming or denying that information is held would compromise law enforcement and could be to the detriment of providing an efficient policing service, resulting in costs to the public purse. 

Section 40 - Personal information 

Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is designed to address information that is covered by the Data Protection Act 1998. 
Under section 40(5), the MPS is not required to comply with the requirements of section 1(1)(a) i.e. the duty to inform the applicant whether or not the information is held. 

Section 40(5)(a) exempts a public authority from the duty to confirm or deny in circumstances where the information requested, if held, would constitute the personal data of the applicant. 

The Information Commissioner’s Office has published guidance titled ‘The exemption for personal information’ in relation to Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 that states: 

‘The duty to confirm or deny does not arise in connection with the personal data of the applicant because of section 40(5)(a).’ 

http://www.ico.gov.uk/~/media/documents/library/Freedom_of_Information/Detailed_specialist_guides/personal_information.ashx

Section 2 of the Data Protection Act also defines certain classes of information as 'sensitive personal data'. This includes, but is not limited to, information relating to:
·        the commission or alleged commission of any offence 
·        the physical or mental health or condition of an individual.  

A higher threshold exists for the disclosure of sensitive personal data.

Therefore, to either confirm or deny the existence of information regarding an individual would, in this instance be disclosing sensitive personal data.  For example, such a statement in relation to your request would confirm to the world at large whether an individual had been investigated and to what extent.  This will constitute a breach of the Data Protection Act.  Alternatively, such a statement may impair the ability of the MPS to protect personal data in relation to similar requests for information.

To the extent that the information requested would, if held, contain  personal data, the MPS is not required to confirm or deny whether the information is held subject to the provisions of section 40(5)(a) of the Act. 

Please note that the rationale presented above is in relation to the duty to confirm whether the information requested is held by the MPS. 

Overall Balance test 

The security of the country is of paramount importance and the Police service will not divulge whether information is or is not held if to do so would undermine National Security or law enforcement.  Whilst there is a public interest in the transparency of policing operations and providing assurance that the police service is appropriately and effectively engaging with the threat posed by various groups or individuals there is a very strong public interest in safeguarding the integrity of police investigations and operations in the highly sensitive area of extremism, crime prevention, public disorder and terrorism prevention.   

There have previously been requests for information that the Counter Terrorism Command may or may not hold on individuals or groups where the applicant has been unhappy with the reply and pursued a decision from the Information Commissioner.  On these occasions the ICO have upheld the approach taken based upon the use of the Section 23(5) exemption.  In FS50258193 the Information Commissioner states” The Commissioner is satisfied that there will be very few instances where the information held by Special Branch is not also held by a Section 23(3) body, even if it was not directly or indirectly supplied by them, as the nature of the work of special branches involves very close working with security bodies and regular sharing of information and intelligence.”

Similarly in FS50263467 the Information Commissioner further states “that there may be instances where Special Branch information would not relate to a Section 23(3) body, although these would be few and far between.”  The ICO has also accepted in the same case that “all documents compiled and held by Special Branch will on the balance of probabilities relate to, or have been supplied by, a body specified in Section 23(3).  Therefore, any information falling within the scope of this request which might be held by the public authority would be exempt under section 23.  To disclose whether such information is or is not held would itself be a disclosure of exempt information.” 

As much as there is public interest in knowing that policing activity is appropriate and balanced this will only be overridden in exceptional circumstances. Areas of interest to the police are sensitive to the extent that they reveal local intelligence.  To confirm or deny the existence of the requested information, if held, would allow interested parties to gain an upper hand and awareness of policing decisions used during investigations. As previously stated, disclosure under FOIA is a release to the public at large. Therefore, to confirm or deny the existence of any information that you have requested, if held, into the public domain could potentially be misused proving detrimental to ongoing and future investigations.  Whilst not questioning the motives of the applicant it could be of use to those who seek to disrupt any police investigation as it would by a process of elimination, enable them to identify whether specific individuals or groups have or have not been subject of a Special Branch investigation. This would lead to an increase of harm to either the investigation itself or the subject of the investigation. 

Whilst to confirm or deny that any information is held, would reassure the public that an investigation had been properly conducted and allow for a greater understanding of how information has been gathered, this could undermine the role and effectiveness of any future investigations, as to confirm or deny that there might have been information which was obtained in confidence, individuals would be reluctant to assist the police for fear of this being made public.

To confirm or deny information is held would harm law enforcement functions of the MPS by disclosing operational techniques used over a significant number of years.  This would compromise the future law enforcement capabilities of the police, which would be to the detriment of providing an efficient policing service and a failure in providing a duty of care to all members of the public.

After weighing up the competing interests I have determined that confirmation or denial of any information being held concerning whether there are or were Special Branch files held on the Hackney Community Defence Association and/or the Colin Roach Centre or campaigns it has coordinated would not be in the public interest. To confirm or deny that information is held regarding any individual or groups who the MPS might or might not have investigated could be detrimental to any investigations that may be being conducted.


However, this should not be taken as necessarily indicating that any information that would meet your request exists or does not exist.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper entitled Complaint Rights, which explains how to make a complaint.  

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please contact me at the address at the top of this letter, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely




C. Gayle-Petrou
Information Manager

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
PublicAccessOffice@met.police.uk

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your complaint within 20 working days.

The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 745

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Further threats to Britain's food security

Written in July for the Landworker magazine of Unite, lack of space meant it was not used.

Soil scientist and Unite rural committee member Charlie Clutterbuck fears the threat to Britain’s future food security is being ignored after cuts were recently announced at two leading  plant research institutes. Britain currently imports 40% of its food, worth around £20 billion annually.  

Kew Gardens has lost £1.5 million of its budget from Defra. 125 jobs will go, mostly in scientific areas including possibly at the seed bank project. Kew is internationally recognised for its biodiversity, conservation and crop improvement research. 

The cuts occur despite a Defra report four years that revealed that Kew’s work suffered from a funding shortage. This latest announcement has raised public concern and over 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for the cuts to be reversed. 

Meantime, 70 jobs, around 10% of the staff, will go at the James Hutton Institute, based in Invergowrie and Aberdeen. The institute operates farms undertaking research into crops including barley and potatoes. The cost cutting exercise comes after the institute lost £2.5million of government funding over the last three years.

Now retired, Clutterbuck can recall when agricultural and horticultural research was run seriously by the state. Big research stations did the practical research whilst University departments examined the more academic aspects. All were linked in providing advice to farmers on which crop varieties were suited to particular conditions.  “This was a sea of knowledge permitting farmers to take whatever they could use, according to their capital and abilities. This ended in the late 80s when Thatcherism said ‘leave it to the markets,’ – especially the supermarkets. Food processors and retailers altered agricultural policy. Investment in research and development began its long downward spiral whilst food imports rocketed.”  

There are just ten agricultural research stations today. In 1990 there were 31. Some were swallowed up by universities and later closed. 

As a special advisor under the last Labour Government to the parliamentary committee on food security, Charlie was left staggered that Tesco hadn’t considered how they might source food in 20 years time. The Global Food Security organisation was subsequently established when UK research councils, government departments and other public bodies agreed to combine to utilise science to ensure the security of the UK’s food. 

Yet agricultural research cuts have continued. Wellesbourne Horticultural Research International Station shut in 2010. Imperial College, London closed its plant science department two years ago. Now Kew and the Hutton Institute are being hit. 

“Research at Kew and Hutton needs protecting as there is increasing competition for food caused by the rise of countries such as China and India. We can expand the amount of food we grow in the UK but only if invest in research that can help solve practical problems. The Government should look at the long term picture and reverse these cuts,” said Charlie.