The purpose of this letter is to request information under the Freedom of Information act 2000. In order to assist you with this request, I am outlining my query as specifically as possible. The query is based on false bomb alarms in the underground stations of: 1) Liverpool Street station 2) Aldgate station 3) Old Street station 4) Canary Wharf station 5) Bethnal Green station In the past 36 months, from year 2015-2017 I would like to know: 1) Number of false alarms -broken down by where it happened (which of the stations above) 2) How it was reported It would be greatly appreciated if you provide the information in an electronic form and if you could confirm that you have received this request. If you need any clarification, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Under section 16 it is your duty to provide advice and assistance and so I would expect you to contact me if you find this request unmanageable in any way.

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TfL Ref: 2187-1718

Thank you for your emails received by us on 7 and 17 November 2017 clarifying your request and asking for information about bomb threats or reports of unattended items that have been deemed as suspicious and which the police have been asked to assess further for five specific Tube stations for the period 2015-2017 inclusive.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy.

Unfortunately we do not hold all of the information which would enable us to provide you with a complete report of all the information you have requested.  This is in part due to the descriptions of the information you are requesting which do not tally with the ones we would use.

 ‘Bomb threats’ received are referred to the British Transport Police (BTP) who will categorise the threat and provide London Underground with advice and guidance as to how to respond to that specific threat.  Bomb threats which are initially routed through the Metropolitan Police, should ultimately be dealt with by BTP if there is a reference to a railway / Tube location. Therefore the BTP is main holder of all types of specific information such as that you are requesting. As every bomb threat is categorised by BTP, they have a system of recording, collating  and analysing these incidents. We therefore suggest that you contact them directly using the following link: http://www.btp.police.uk/about_us/your_right_to_information/freedom_of_information.aspx.  With regard to information on unattended items for those incidents “where Police have been called to investigate further”, as there is a requested Police response to the incident, the BTP will again hold records of how many incidents have occurred and where they have taken place.

I am sorry that we are unable to assist further with your request.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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