FOI Request 2081

Subject: Pre-Determined Attendance Guidelines

Status: Complete

Date received: November 2024

Question Asked:

I am curious as to the pre determined attendance guidelines within the northwest, and was wondering if you could send over a list of North west PDA’s including the call category and what is sent to that job.

Our Response:

Firstly, I can confirm that Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) do hold the information relating to your request. 

However, after careful consideration the following exemption applies, and we are unable to release the information. 

Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you with a notice which

a) states that facts, 

b) specifies the exemption in question and;

c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

Section 24 – National Security.

Section 24 (1) allows CFRS to withhold information if it considers that releasing the information would make the UK or its citizens more vulnerable to a national security threat. CFRS considers withholding the information necessary for the purposes of safeguarding national security.

Section 24(1) 

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 defines the above exemption as a prejudice based qualified exemption and as such CFRS is required, under the Act to articulate the harm that would be caused in supplying the information held as well as considering the public interest.

Harm in providing the Information held.

To provide the list of Pre-Determined Attendances (PDA’s), what appliances and the number of appliances mobilised to incidents would, or would be likely to, provide anyone wanting to carry out acts of terrorism with a detailed plan of our pre-planned emergency response and in turn harm CFRS ability to respond efficiently and effectively, and therefore jeopardising public safety.

Public safety is of paramount importance to CFRS and we will not disclose information which would impact the Service’s ability to keep the public safe.

Factors favouring supplying information held.

We acknowledge there is a public interest in knowing that CFRS has adequate procedures in place to deal with any emergency incident involving public safety.

Factors against supplying information held.

A disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is a disclosure, not just to the individual, but to the world at large. As such we need to consider if the information being requested is suitable for public disclosure, as any disclosure under FOIA puts that information into the wider public domain. CFRS must consider what the information provided could be used for by anyone with a malicious intent. With the knowledge of the resources CFRS sends to different types of incidents, individuals with malicious intentions could seek to divert key resources to minor incidents leaving CFRS with potential problems in resourcing a larger or more serious incident and jeopardising public safety. 

Balancing Test.    

Having considered the public interest test, we believe that someone who is planning criminal activity is likely to find this PDA information useful for planning to disrupt CFRS’ operational capability. The information in the PDA could assist someone who is planning to divert resources and reduce the effectiveness of CFRS’ response to an emergency and or an emerging threat. As public safety is our main concern, I consider that the benefit that would result from the information being disclosed does not outweigh the considerations favouring non-disclosure, particularly when you consider the actual/potential physical harm that would be likely to be caused.

As such this response acts as a public interest refusal notice under FOIA.

Outcome: Refused

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO