Request for information about UKSC Security Officers received 26 April 2021
Request received on 26 April 2021
Please provide any records of the Court Security Officers at the Supreme Court exercising any of the following powers;
- 1. Powers of Search
- 2. Powers of exclusion
- 3. Powers of restraint
- 4. Powers of removal
- 5. Power of surrender (items of belongings)
- 6. Power of retention of personal property
Further, has there been any prosecutions of individuals in relation to the assault or obstruction of any of the Supreme Court security Officers.
Response sent on 25 May 2021
Your request has been handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)
I will deal with each aspect of your request in turn.
1. Powers of Search
The Supreme Court does not hold any records of the Security Officers searching individuals that enter or use the building. A condition of entry to the Supreme Court is that all visitors are searched upon arrival. This has been in place since the court opened in 2009.
2. Powers of exclusion
The Supreme Court Security Officers have no records and have not excluded anyone from the Court.
3. Powers of restraint
The Supreme Court Security Officers have one record of where officers restrained an individual. A redacted version of that record (the incident report) is attached.
4. Powers of removal
The Supreme Court Security Officers have no records and have not had to remove anyone from the building.
5. Power of surrender (items of belongings)
All visitors to the Supreme Court are searched upon entry – this is therefore a condition of entry and no specific records are kept. If the visitors are carrying items that are not permitted within the Supreme Court building, they are handed to security and collected on exiting the building. The Supreme Court Security Officers log all items in and out. The public are within their rights to refuse but will not be permitted entrance to the building.
6. Power of retention of personal property
The Supreme Court Security Officers do not retain any items confiscated by the visitors. If visitors are carrying items that are illegal these are reported to the police. The Police will then ensure that appropriate action is taken.
Further, has there been any prosecutions of individuals in relation to the assault or obstruction of any of the Supreme Court security Officers?
To date there have been no prosecutions that the Supreme Court are aware of, that relate to the assault or obstruction of the Supreme Court Security Officers.
To see a copy of the accompanying pdf to this response, please email foi@supremecourt.uk.