Subject Access Request & Information Commissioner's Office

I raised a subject access request with the police to obtain body cam footage of my mothers arrest, as well as the reasons for arrest document, which is submitted by the custody officer.

The police data team has come back to me and said... they cant give me that information as it could prejudice their ongoing investigation. I can request another subject access request once their investigation is complete - but that could take a verrrry long time and they wouldn't exactly message me to let me know.

I replied and pointed out their reply is nonsensical. This is information we were already privy to, as we were there when my mother was being arrested (body cam footage) and my mum was told the reasons for her arrest when she was incarcerated (though she doesn't remember them, as she was exhausted and terrified, which seems reasonable in the circumstances).

How can someone's arrest prejudice the investigation they are being arrested in connection with? How can telling someone the reasons for their arrest impact the police investigation?

Make it make sense someone!!

Thankfully, there is someone who can. The Information Commissioner's Office. I called them as soon as I read Surrey Police's ridiculous reply to check if this was something I could bring to them. They confirmed it was and that they would look into expediating it, given the circumstances and their waiting times are about 14 weeks at the moment.

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