FOI 670/25
REQUEST
- What South Wales Police buildings are captured by the TM44 Air Conditioning Regulations?
- When do the current Certificates expire?
- Who is the responsible person for ensuring that SWP are legally compliant on the TM44 requirement.
- Provide the name, position, address, email address of the person responsible for compliance?
RESPONSE
We consulted with our Estates Department who have provided the following information in relation to your request.
Question 1
| Project Name | Site Reference | Site Name | Address | Last insp date | Proposed next Inspection Date |
| South Wales Police | Merthyr Bridewell | Merthyr Bridewell | South Wales Police, Ty Rhydycar, Rhydycar Business Park, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ | 28.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Aberdare Police Station | Aberdare Police Station | South Wales Police, Cross Street, Aberdare, CF44 7EG | 01.12.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Mountain Ash Police Station | Mountain Ash Police Station | South Wales Police, High Street, Mountain Ash, CF45 3PE | 28.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Porth Police Station | Porth Police Station | 16PorthSt, .Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf, CF39 9RR | 28.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Pontypridd Police Station | Pontypridd Police Station | South Wales Police, Berw Rd, Pontypridd, CF37 2TR | 28.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Forest Grove ( CTO) | Forest Grove ( CTO) | Forest Grove, Treforest, Pontypridd, Wales, CF37 1UE | 28.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Gwaeold y Garth | Gwaeold y Garth | Viaduct Road, Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff, CF15 6JU | 30.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | 101 House | 101 House | South Wales Police, Oak Tree Court, Mulberry Drive, Cardiff Gate Business Park, CF23 8RS | 29.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Rumney Police Station | Rumney Police Station | South Wales Police, Newport Road, Rumney, Cardiff, CF3 4FD | 29.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Cardiff Central Police Station | Cardiff Central Police Station | South Wales Police, King Edward VII avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NN | 29.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Cardiff Bay Police Station | Cardiff Bay Police Station | South Wales Police, Cardiff Bay Police Station, James Street, Cardiff, CF10 5EW | 29.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Penarth Police Station | Penarth Police Station | South Wales Police, 97 Windsor Road, Penarth, CF64 1JF | 29.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Barry Police Station | Barry Police Station | South Wales Police, Gladstone Road, Barry, CF63 1TD | 29.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Fairwater Police Station | Fairwater Police Station | Norbury Rd, Cardiff, CF5 3AT | 29.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Nordor House | Nordor House | Nordor House, South Wales Police, South Road, Bridgend Industrial Estate, CF31 3PT | 27.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Bridgend Bridewell | Bridgend Bridewell | Queens Rd, Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend, CF31 3UT | 27.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | The Kingsway | The Kingsway | Queens Rd, Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend, CF31 3YH | 28.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Bridgend Headquarters Building 2 | Bridgend Headquarters Building | Waterton Firearms Range, South Wales Police HQ, Cowbridge Road, Bridgend, CF31 3SU | 27.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Bridgend Headquarters | Bridgend Headquarters Resturant | Waterton Firearms Range, South Wales Police HQ, Cowbridge Road, Bridgend, CF31 3SU | 27.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Ty Thomas | Ty Thomas | Newlands Ave, Brackla Industrial Estate, Bridgend, CF31 2XA | 28.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Waterton LDS/Firearms/SSU/ Dogs | Waterton LDS/Firearms/SSU/ Dogs | WatertonRoad, Waterton, Bridgend, Wales, CF31 3YU | 27.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Sandfields Police Station | Sandfields Police Station | DEW ROAD, Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot Wales, SA13 7LN | 30.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Neath Police Station | Neath Police Station | 5 Gnoll Park Rd, Neath, SA11 3BW | 30.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Lakeside | Lakeside | Lakeside PoliceStation Unit C, LakesideTechnology Park, Swansea Enterprise Park, SWANSEA, SA7 9EH | 30.11.2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Swansea Central Station | Swansea Central Station | South Wales Constabulary, Swansea Central Police Station, Grove Place, Swansea, SA1 5EA | 30.11,2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Cockett Police Station | Cockett Police Station | SwanseaPolice Station, John Street, Cockett, SWANSEA, SA2 0FR | 30.11,2023 | Nov 2028 |
| South Wales Police | Morriston Police Station | Morriston Police Station | Morriston Police Station, Sway Road, Morriston, Swansea, SA6 6HT | 30.11,2023 | Nov 2028 |
Your request for information in relation to covert locations has been considered and I am not obliged to supply the information you have requested.
In relation to your request, the following exemption applies:
Section 31 (1) (a) – Law Enforcement
Section 31 is a qualified, prejudice-based exemption and the legislators accept that there may be harm if released. The authority is therefore required to articulate the harm that may be caused and consider the public interest arguments for and against the disclosure of the information.
Overall Harm – Section 31 – Law Enforcement
The essence of the work undertaken by South Wales Police is to protect both individuals and society as a whole. To disclose information regarding covert locations within South Wales Police would be extremely useful to those involved in criminality and/or terrorism.
The public entrust the Police Service to make appropriate decisions with regard to their safety and protection and the only way of reducing risk is to be cautious with the information that is released.
Section 31 Factors Favouring Disclosure
Disclosure would allow the public to feel more informed about the use of public funds.
Section 31 Factors Favouring Non-Disclosure
The Police Service has a duty to deliver effective law enforcement ensuring prevention and detection of crime, apprehension or protection of offences and administration of justice carried out appropriately. They will not reveal detail, no matter how generic, which would compromise effective law enforcement issues. It is not in the public interest to release information that may be of assistance to anyone involved in a criminal act. As explained in the harm, the release of information would be likely to assist criminals rather than being an operational tool for police and thus ultimately protecting the community.
Balancing Test
To disclose the requested information would have a serious negative impact on the security of South Wales Police. Weakening the mechanisms used to monitor any type of criminal activity would place security of the country in an increased level of danger.
Information disclosed under Freedom of Information is made public to the world when released. Disclosure of information regarding covert locations of police facilities in South Wales Police would mean any subsequent Freedom of Information requests for other areas would be treated similarly. A series of disclosures would mean criminals would be able to build up a picture of locations of covert police buildings throughout the United Kingdom.
There is general public interest in promoting transparency, however factors against disclosure are stronger. There is more than a likelihood law enforcement tactics would be compromised. Disclosure would hinder detection of crime, undermining ‘covert’ or ‘discreet operations’. The results would inevitably mean more crime committed and less crime detected. This would lead to an undermining of public confidence in the police.
In all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
This acts as a refusal notice for this part of your request.
South Wales Police can neither confirm nor deny that it holds any other information with regard to an exempt body as the duty in Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not apply by virtue of the following exemptions:
Section 23(5) - Information Supplied by, or concerning, certain Security Bodies
Section 24(2) – National Security
Section 23 is a class based absolute exemption and there is no requirement to consider the public interest in this case.
Confirming or denying the existence of whether any other information is held would contravene the constrictions laid out within Section 23 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in that this stipulates a generic bar on disclosure of any information applied by, or concerning, certain Security Bodies.
Section 24 is a qualified and prejudice-based exemption which requires South Wales Police to carry out a public interest test.
Harm – S24
Confirmation or denial that any further information is held relevant to this request would enable a geographical picture to be drawn up at force level, as well as a national level, about whether there are joint operational locations utilised and embedded by other law enforcement personnel; whether or not operating in concert with police officers of the host Constabulary. This would be vital police intelligence to individuals, some of whom may be terrorists or terrorist organisations, who are intent on targeting locations specifically utilised by Law Enforcement.
Confirmation or denial that any other information is held would leave forces open to disruption and compromise the effective delivery of operational law enforcement which in turn, is met by an increase of criminal offending. Any disclosure that undermines the generic terms of duty of care provided by policing and Law Enforcement would be detrimental to the public at large.
In short, any incident that results from confirming that any other information is or is not held would by default affect National Security.
Factors favouring confirmation that information is held
To confirm whether any other information is held relating to this request would better inform the general public as to the existence of policing and law enforcement capabilities within specific geographical locations. In turn, this can increase public confidence with the likely effect of dissuading mal actors from operating within specific areas or regions.
Factors favouring denial that information is held
Taking into account the current security climate within the United Kingdom, no information which may aid a terrorist should be disclosed.
Security measures are put in place to protect the community that we serve. To confirm whether any other information is held relevant to this request would provide a detailed account of the tactical infrastructure of not only a force area but also the country as a whole. This would highlight to terrorists and individuals’ intent on carrying out criminal or terrorist activity any vulnerabilities within the localities of specific forces.
Confirmation, if held, would also allow inferences to be made about the nature and extent of national security related activities. This could enable terrorist groups to target sensitive police locations, and as such, confirmation or denial would be damaging to national security. This would lead to the compromise of ongoing or future operations to protect the security or infra-structure both within the UK and Internationally.
Irrespective as to whether any information is or is not held, the public entrust the Police Service to make appropriate decisions with regard to their safety and protection and the only way of reducing risk is to be cautious with what is placed into the public domain.
Question 2
The current certificates expire in November 2028.
Questions 3 & 4
Your request for information has now been considered and I am not obliged to supply the information you have requested.
The exemption that applies is S40(2) – Personal information.
Section 40(2) is an absolute class-based exemption and therefore the authority is not required to consider the public interest in disclosure.
The Data Protection Act covers processing of personal data about a living individual. Personal data means data which relate to a living individual who can be identified-
- from those data, or
- from those data and other information, which is in the possession of, or is likely to come into the possession of, the data controller or any other person in respect of the individual.
Information will “relate to” a person if it is about them, linked to them, has some biographical significance for them, is used to inform decisions affecting them, has them as its main focus or impacts on them in any way.
If we disclosed these details, this would provide significant detail which could identify an individual and would breach the first principle of the Data Protection Act 2018.
In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a refusal notice for this part of your request.
We can however provide you with the department email address: