FOI release

Freedom of Information request - Community book swap scheme ban

Case reference FOI2025/00399

Received 18 April 2025

Published 8 May 2025

Request

Can you tell me why the community book swap scheme at London Tube stations is banned, but the free newspapers can be distributed at stations? How many calls has LFB attended because of the fire caused by the Community book swap since 2011, when the first one opened? How many calls to London Underground stations have there been where the free newspapers have caused the start of a fire, and again, since 2011 If the answer to the last two questions is zero, then can you explain why books have been banned and free newspapers have not? Finally, as the book program has been around for quite some time, why has it taken so long for LFB to ban the book swap

Response

Please see the response in the attached link below.

Documents

• FOIA response for disclosure log - FOI2025_00399.pdf (25.6 KB)

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.