FOI release

storage and charging of radios, body-worn video, thermal imaging cameras and devices

Case reference FOI2026/01350

Received 21 October 2026

Published 13 November 2026

Request

1. How the service stores and charges the following when they are not in use: (a) Airwave or ESN radios, (b) body-worn video cameras, (c) tablets, laptops or other mobile devices, (d) thermal imaging cameras. For example lockers, charging or docking stations, or cabinets. 2. For any lockers, charging or docking stations or cabinets used for these items: the supplier, the number of units, the number of sites and the year installed, and any current support or maintenance contract (supplier, annual value and end date). 3. Whether the service has approved or budgeted any new or replacement storage or charging for these items in the next 24 months, including for ESN or new body-worn video, and if so the value, the expected date and the procurement route, if held.

Response

The London Fire Brigade holds information within the scope of your request. We have decided to withhold it under section 24(1) (national security) and section 31(1)(a) (prevention or detection of crime) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This letter is our refusal notice under section 17 of the Act.

Section 24(1) – national security

Section 24(1) provides that information is exempt if exemption from the duty to disclose is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security. "Required" means reasonably necessary. It does not need to be shown that disclosure would lead to a direct or immediate threat to the UK.

London Fire Brigade is a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and is a core part of London's response to terrorist incidents and other major emergencies. Our ability to respond quickly and effectively to a terrorist attack, and to protect the public and other emergency responders at the scene, forms part of the UK's wider national security arrangements.

Those seeking to carry out a terrorist attack, or hostile actors seeking to disrupt critical services, could use this information to understand how the Brigade operates, to identify points where our response could be delayed or overwhelmed, and to plan accordingly. This risk increases when the information is combined with other information already in the public domain, allowing a fuller picture to be built up over time.

The national threat level, set independently by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, was raised from SUBSTANTIAL to SEVERE on 30 April 2026, meaning an attack is considered highly likely. The government has also highlighted an increase in physical threats linked to hostile states. London remains a high-profile target. We consider that withholding this information is reasonably necessary to safeguard national security in that context.

Section 31(1)(a) – prevention or detection of crime

Section 31(1)(a) provides that information is exempt if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime.

We consider that disclosure would be likely to prejudice the prevention of crime. The information could help someone target our equipment for theft. Disruption of this kind would endanger the public and our staff, and could itself amount to criminal activity.

Disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act is treated as disclosure to the world at large, not just to the person who asked. We have to consider how the information might be used by anyone, not the intentions of the individual requester.

Public interest test

Both exemptions are qualified, so we have considered whether the public interest in maintaining them outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

In favour of disclosure:

  • there is a general public interest in transparency and accountability about how the Brigade operates and uses public money

  • the information could help the public understand how the Brigade keeps London safe and how resilient its services are

  • disclosure could inform public debate about fire and rescue provision in London

In favour of maintaining the exemptions:

  • there is a very strong public interest in safeguarding national security, which carries particular weight while the threat level is SEVERE

  • the public interest is served by the Brigade being able to maintain its operations and respond effectively to emergencies, including terrorist incidents, without that capability being undermined

  • there is a strong public interest in preventing crime and in protecting the public and our staff from harm

  • disclosure would make it easier for those intending harm to plan around our response, and this risk cannot be removed once information is released to the world

Having weighed these factors, we have concluded that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

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

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