FOI 0451-2024/25 Operation Infusion

Request
I would like to request the following regarding Operation Infusion and the 2024 policing operation around the Drax Power Station in connection with a planned climate camp. Please provide to date figures where relevant: 

1. How many officers from which police forces have been involved, broken down for each force
2. How many personnel from other emergency services have been involved, broken down for each emergency service
3. Which private contractors have been involved e.g. Specialist Group International
4. Current total costs of the operation
5. When did the operation start and has it ended, if so when did it end?
6. How many arrests have been made under the operation, how many of those have led to charges at this point?

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information
To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police.  

Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you.

Q1. 1070 Officers were deployed throughout the operational period.   A breakdown per force is provided below.

Q2. The only recorded information held is that there were 5 paramedics during the days and 5 during the nights that were on site 7th to 12^th.    

Q3. North Yorkshire Police had contractors for food provisions, accommodation, vehicle hire, minibus, hire of portaloos, carparking, skips, fencing.  However, I am exempting the names of those contractors under section 24(1) National Security and section 31(a) Law Enforcement of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  Please see the exemption explanation below. -

Q4. The cost for the operation was £3,168,432.

Q5. The operation commenced on the 06 August to 13 August 2024.

Q6. There were 24 arrests as a result of this operation. I am unable to answer the remaining part of the request as these are currently under investigation.

Exemption Explanation

Section 17 of the Act requires North Yorkshire Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

Section 24 and 31 are qualified, prejudice-based exemption, which requires that I conduct a public interest test and evidence the harm in releasing such information.

Harm in Disclosure
The operations at Drax are sensitive and the Police Service has a positive duty to protect the public from harm and the duty of care to all involved.

To reveal specific details relating to the names of Private Compaines would be beneficial to those who wish to cause disruption and target relevant companies who have participated in assisting with the operation. 

In addition criminals may see it as an opportunity to undertake more criminal activity against those businesses and therefore increase the risk of crime and police resources required to manage those crimes.

Public Interest for Section 24 and 31
Section 24 – Factors favouring disclosure
Disclosure of information relevant to the request would lead to a better-informed public. The public are entitled to know how public funds are spent especially with regards resources for sensitive operational events.  

Section 24 – Factors favouring non-disclosure
To what extent the disclosure of this information may aid criminals and terrorist is unknown, but it is clear that it will have an impact on a force’s ability to monitor any activity. The impact of providing information under FOI which aids criminal offending, or be used to their advantage in causing distruption on such organsations, will undermind local and National Security.  

Section 31 - Factors favouring disclosure
There is a public interest in the community being made aware of the resources that were provided to for the operation.

Section 31 - Factors favouring non-disclosure
To disclose specific names of the companies, would release details which could be used by individuals to create more disruption and therefore placing a need for additional police resourcing.

Balancing Test
Whilst there is public interest in the disclosure of information, namely that the public would feel better informed as to the performance of North Yorkshire Police in managing the operations at Drax, there is also substantial public interest in maintaining the integrity of police resources, and those companies that assist, around operations that are sensitive, such public disorder and protests.

As much as there is public interest in knowing that policing activity is appropriate and balanced this will only be overridden in exceptional circumstances. It is our opinion that for these issues the balancing test for exempting your request for planning information is not made out.

Pursuant to Section 17(1) of the Act this letter acts as a Refusal Notice in response to part of your request.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.