Request ID: FOI-2334-2122 Date published: 31 January 2022
You asked
I represent a trade association called the xxxx, made up of a membership running large scale exhibitions and conferences.
They have asked me to contact you and question what TFL’s plans are surrounding “Operation London Bridge” ?
We have some information from our venue stakeholders on what will take place over the period of national mourning, but there is limited information out there on the infrastructure that will be in place in and around London, including transport.
Do you have a document or any information that you can share with me?
They are – understandably – concerned that if they were to run their event – nobody would be able to get to it.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2334-2122
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 13th January 2022 asking for information about ‘Operation London Bridge’.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“I represent a trade association called the xxxx, made up of a membership running large scale exhibitions and conferences.
They have asked me to contact you and question what TFL’s plans are surrounding “Operation London Bridge” ?
We have some information from our venue stakeholders on what will take place over the period of national mourning, but there is limited information out there on the infrastructure that will be in place in and around London, including transport.
Do you have a document or any information that you can share with me?”
I can confirm that TfL holds some material within the scope of your request. However, the information we hold is exempt from release under section 37(1)(ad) of the Freedom of Information Act. Section 37 applies to information that falls within the categories “Communications with Her Majesty and the awarding of honours”. The full guidance on the use of the exemption can be found on the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) website here:
In this instance the information is exempt as it constitutes “Communications with the Royal Household”.
As you can see from the ICO guidance, section 37(1)(ad) is a “qualified” exemption, meaning we have to balance whether the greater public interest lies in applying the exemption and withholding the material or in releasing it in any case.
TfL appreciates the need for transparency and accountability in the operation of our business, and the fact that you have requested the information is in itself an argument in favour of release. Further information about the sort of material that might be fit for release in this realm can be seen in paragraphs 49 to 53 of the guidance - but, as you can see, those factors are not relevant in this instance. The ICO guidance also lists a number of factors in favour of applying the exemption, with paragraphs 60 to 63 of particular relevance. This section includes the following
“61. The public interest in withholding the information is likely to be very strong where:
• the engagement has still to take place; and • the information contains details about the arrangements of the event, the disclosure of which would pose a security risk to the Royal Family.”
Those factors apply in this instance, and taking the overall ICO guidance into account we believe the balance of public interest lies in withholding the information to help maintain the security of the event..
Notwithstanding the above, we can confirm that TfL will continue to operate our services to the greatest extent possible, but there may be temporary changes to some services dependent on the advice and requirements of the Police.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
