FOI Request 1839

Subject: Updated Fleet List

Status: Complete

Date received: February 2023

Question Asked:

I am writing to request an uptodate Fleetlist for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. I am have been made aware that you procured some new appliances and would like to have a full allocation list of these. This must include the following information: Vehicle Registration, Make, Model, Builder, Type and Location.

It will not be accepted that Cheshire FRS place the request as not in the public interest and refuse to pass this information due to National Security or following the CPNI guidance. These are public assets and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service must remember this.

It is also to be noted that the below which has come from the ICO to which the information is now allowed to be released.

A recent Decision Notice on the ICO's web site related to the publishing of Vehicle Registration Marks (VRMs) in response to Freedom of Information requests and, in particular, the difference between vehicles registered to individuals and those registered to organisations. It also referenced vehicles registered to organisations but have subsequently been sold-on and may now be registered to individuals.

‘26. The Commissioner has previously considered the status of VRM’s under the DPA 1998 and decided that where the VRM belongs to a vehicle which is owned by a living individual the VRM itself will be personal data without associated information being disclosed with it.

This is because information identifying the owner of the vehicle is obtainable simply from having access to the VRM."

"27. However, the Commissioner notes that where the owner of a vehicle is a corporate body or an organisation rather than a living identifiable individual then VRM information cannot be personal data. Section 40(2) cannot therefore apply to this information."

"29. Following on from this, a disclosure of any VRM data which refers to vehicles which have since been sold on to private individuals would also be a disclosure of personal data, relating to the new owner of the vehicle. A motivated individual with access to the VRM number of a vehicle would be able to take steps to identify the current owner of that vehicle."

Our Response:

Our most recent fleet list (February 2023) is now on our website which I hope you will find helpful.

The Service aims to be transparent and comply with the Freedom of Information requirements which is why there would be no harm in providing partial VRNs and therefore the information on the webpage contains details of all vehicles, with the first 4 digits of each VRN.

Please click on the link below to access our webpage:

Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service - Vehicles

Outcome: Referred to Website

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: YES