FOI Request 2245

Subject: Location of Appliance

Status: Complete

Date received: October 2025

Question Asked:

I am writing in relation to the Road Traffic Collision that involved a cheshire fire appliance specifically [Vehicle Registration Number Redacted], I am seeking information on the whereabouts of this appliance and whether it is due to come back into service or not.

Our Response:

Please see our response below to your Freedom of Information Request.

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

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

Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires CRFS, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide a notice which:

a) states the facts,

b) specifies the exemption in question and;

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

NOTICE

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service does not disclose specific information in relation to its fleet and it withholds this information under Section 24 (1) of the Act. This 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 specific location of a vehicle 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.

A response under Freedom of Information is deemed to be a response to the world at large and in a time of global terrorism CFRS recognise that terrorists can be highly motivated and may go to great lengths to gather intelligence, and seemingly harmless information can be pieced together.

Disclosure could provide and enable targeted malicious actions, e.g. some form of attack on an operational unit, or cloning of a vehicle to be used in a criminal endeavour. Disclosure of specific information on fleet, such as full VRN or location of a certain vehicle could be of intelligence value to a person or persons with criminal or malicious intent.

Certain web-based services publish all online meaning that any information supplied is not restricted as it can be accessed by everyone.

Factors favouring supplying information held.

We acknowledge there is a public interest to certain Fire Appliance enthusiasts in knowing the specific whereabouts of a certain appliances and further details pertaining to those appliances.

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 and also allows the sharing of that information.

CFRS must consider what the information provided could be used for by anyone with a malicious intent. With the knowledge of where a specific appliance is, individuals with malicious intentions could seek to divert key resources, mount some form of attach on an operational unit, or clone the appliance to be used in a criminal endeavour. This could take out key resources leaving CFRS with potential problems in resourcing a larger or more serious incident and jeopardising public safety.

A copy of our most up to date Fleet List can be found on our webpage. Please note CFRS took the decision to remove VRNs from this list in 2023 for the reasons listed above. Under Section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act I am obliged to provide advice and guidance, please see the link below

Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service - Vehicles

Outcome: Refused

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO