Key information
Request reference number: MGLA130224-6510
Date of response:
Summary of request
Your request
- Breakdown of tickets sold for the NYE24 event per zone
- Breakdown of tickets scanned for the NYE24 event per zone
- Number of Volunteers per zone
- Information given to staff regarding queue management
Our response
A total of 106,696 tickets were sold for the display, reflecting the total event capacity agreed with the relevant agencies and responsible authorities. 76,031 people were admitted into the event – i.e. their tickets were scanned.
It is common on New Year’s Eve that a proportion of the ticketholders do not attend. Typically this is around 20% of all tickets, but data across the event this year suggests a dropout of nearer 30% which can be attributed to several factors but is expected to be a result of very poor weather forecasts and warnings about potential travel disruption on both 31st December and 1st January.
There are a relatively small number of volunteers supporting visitor welcome with wayfinding and general advice for ticketholders. These volunteers provide support until 11pm after which they end shifts and head home or into viewing areas to watch the show.
All stewards had access to a digital version of the event handbook which included detail on all ticket viewing areas and the location of the entrances to enable them to direct ticketholders.
Staff received a printed, position specific, brief detailing their role, any messaging and a location specific CAD plan.
Staff were given a verbal general event briefing and a position specific briefing from their supervisor.
Staff had contact with Event Control via their supervisors throughout the event to ensure any changes to the plan or messaging could be communicated.
I can confirm that we are unable to disclose the information given to staff regarding queue management and in relation to the distribution of stewards per area for the following reasons: Information withheld from disclosure under Section 24(1), Section 31(1)(a) and Section 38(1)(b): The information relates to event safety and security measures for the New Year’s Eve Event. Section 24(1) allows a public authority not to disclose information if it considers releasing the information would make the UK or its citizens more vulnerable to a national security threat. The GLA notes the relevance of the following paragraphs from the ICO’s guidance on section 24 of the Act:
(13) Safeguarding national security also includes protecting potential targets even if there is no evidence that an attack in imminent. (14) The Commissioner also recognises terrorists can be highly motivated and may go to great lengths to gather intelligence. This means there may be grounds for withholding what seems harmless information on the basis that it may assist terrorists when pieced together with other information they may obtain.
Previous terrorist attacks in London, Paris and across Europe highlight the heightened risk to the public and crowds at high profile areas of major cities such as London. We note the ICO has acknowledged the link between national security, counter terrorism activities and potential acts of terrorism. We believe that events such as New Year’s Eve are a realistic high‐profile target for potential acts of terrorism.
Section 31(1)(a) covers all aspects of the prevention and detection of crime and can apply to information on general policies and methods adopted by public authorities. Section 31(1)(a) of the Act is engaged because the release of this information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. The provisions of section 24(1) and Section 31(1(a) of the Act are engaged by information which could be used by those intent on committing criminal acts to harm the public.
Section 38(1)(b) of the Act is duly engaged because of the potential risk to public safety as set out in the Act.
Under FoIA the ‘public interest’ is not the same as what might be of interest to the public. In balancing the public interest in disclosure, we consider the greater good or benefit to the community if the information is released or not. The ‘right to know’ must be balanced against the need to enable effective government and to serve the best interests of the public.
There is a clear public interest in the release of information that helps demonstrate the work of public bodies involved in emergency planning. To help facilitate this understanding, there is a justifiable public interest in placing into the public domain information that would allow the public to assess the nature of the discussions that take place, the advice that is given and the way it is presented. Transparency of these decision-making processes will generate confidence in the integrity of the procedures involved.
Considerations favouring non-disclosure; Conversely the disclosure of this same information would increase the risk of criminal activity, violent crime, or other incidents at an event if made public and seen by those intent on causing harm. It is not in the public interest to release information that could be directly used to harm or plan harm to the public.
The information withheld from disclosure is not key to understanding the event itself and may be replicated in part for administering future events. We have determined that safeguarding national security interests, avoiding prejudice to policing operations to prevent and detect crime, and protecting the safety of the public attending the events in London is of paramount importance. The public interest favours maintaining the exemption provisions of s.24(1), s.31(1)(a), s.38(1)(b) and s.43(2) in relation the redacted and withheld informatio