FOI release

Freedom of Information request - LFB mobilisation tone

Case reference FOI2026/00496

Received 30 April 2026

Published 19 May 2026

Request

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please provide a copy of the mobilisation tone (alert tone) used by London Fire Brigade to alert crews to incidents. I am aware that, in some cases, such systems may be supplied or maintained by external contractors. However, under Section 3(2) of the Act, information held by a contractor on behalf of a public authority is considered to be held by that authority for the purposes of the Act. In addition, other UK fire and rescue services, including Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, have previously disclosed mobilisation tones in response to Freedom of Information requests. You see the same request made by me that was successful to/from Herts fire rescue service. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/hfrs_mobilisation_alarm#incoming-3328469 If any part of this request is considered exempt, please provide the remaining information and apply exemptions only where necessary. -------------------------------------------------------------------

Response

In accordance with section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), London Fire Brigade (LFB) can confirm that it holds information within the scope of your request.

LFB has considered your request for a copy of the mobilisation tone used to alert operational crews to incidents.

While LFB accepts that information held on behalf of a public authority by a contractor may constitute information held for the purposes of the FOIA under section 3(2), the requested information is exempt from disclosure.

The information is exempt under section 43(2) of the FOIA, which relates to prejudice to commercial interests. Section 43 is a qualified exemption and therefore requires consideration of the public interest test.

LFB recognises the public interest in promoting transparency, openness and accountability in relation to the operational systems and arrangements used by public authorities. Disclosure of the requested information could assist public understating of how LFB mobilises and alerts operational crews to incidents.

However, the mobilisation tone forms part of a proprietary mobilisation and alerting system supplied and maintained under commercial contractual arrangements with an external provider. Therefore, LFB does not actually own the intellectual property rights in the audio recording and disclosure under the FOIA would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the supplier by undermining its proprietary rights and commercial control over the material. Disclosure under the FOIA is considered disclosure to the world at large. Once disclosed, LFB would have no control over any subsequent modification, distribution or commercial reuse of the audio recording. There is a significant public interest in ensuring that LFB is able to procure and maintain operational systems effectively and without prejudice to existing and future commercial relationships.

Having considered the competing public interest factors, LFB considers that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

LFB notes your reference to disclosures made by other fire and rescue services. Requests made under the FOIA are considered on a case-by-case basis and according to the specific circumstances, contractual arrangements, systems and rights applicable to the individual authority concerned. Previous disclosures by other organisations do not automatically determine the outcome of separate requests made to LFB.

This response acts only in relation to the information specifically requested and should not be interpreted as preventing the submission of future requests for recorded information.

LFB publishes responses to FOIA requests on its disclosure log, which may assist applicants seeking information on similar subject matters. A similar response concerning this subject matter is available on LFB’s disclosure log here.

We have dealt with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. For more information about this process please see the guidance we publish about making a request on our website: https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about-us/transparency/request-information-from-us/

Documents

This is London Fire Brigade's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.