Police vehicle fleet (FOI)

Request

I would like to request a fleet list with the following information on the current fleet for the States of Jersey Police.

Vehicle Fleet of Marked Resources

• vehicle model and make

• vehicle year

• registration number / registration plate

• role of the vehicle (for example area car, prisoner transport)

• division the vehicle is part of (for example Local Policing, Roads Policing)

• Station where vehicle is based

Vehicle Fleet of Unmarked Resources

• vehicle model and make

• vehicle year

• division the vehicle is part of (for example Local Policing, Roads Policing)

Response:

Marked vehicle fleet

All vehicles are based at Jersey’s only police station in St Helier. All vehicles are used for uniformed operational purposes:

A further five electric vehicles (BMW i3) are due to enter service this year as replacements for the Diesel BMW 54.

Unmarked vehicle fleet

The Sates of Jersey police will not release details of unmarked vehicles. The use of these vehicle can vary from day to day. As operational vehicles, they could be used as general transport or in covert operations. As such to give the information requested could frustrate the purpose they are being used for and Article 42 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

Article applied

Article 42 Law enforcement

Information is qualified exempt information if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice –

(a) the prevention, detection or investigation of crime, whether in Jersey or elsewhere;

(b) the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, whether in respect of offences committed in Jersey or elsewhere

Public Interest Test

For publication: the public have a right to know that public funds are being spent responsibly and transparency is one way of achieving this.

Against publication. Police operations could be frustrated by giving details of make, model and registration numbers of all unmarked police vehicles. The Jersey police fleet is limited and vehicles must be multipurpose. They are sometimes used in a covert capacity. To reveal the details requested would be likely to prejudice the prevention, investigation and detection of crime in the island.

The public can be reassured that any purchases made or vehicles leased, will be under the terms and conditions of the government financial policies and will be thoroughly audited.

The balance of the public interest test falls on the side of non disclosure, to protect the interests of the Jersey public in keeping them safe from the consequences of serious organised crime and other criminal activity.