Operational support unit (FOI ref: 920A/24)

Request

1. Please can you provide information on the different specialist skills that members of the OSU (Operational Support Unit) would hold.

2. Please can you also provide information on the level of CBRN training that members of the force would hold.

Clarification:

By ‘the level of CBRN training’, I mean what they are trained in is the types of CBRN training rather they have basic training or if the force have officers who can deal with anything that can come under CBRN similar to how the Met TSG (Territorial Support Group) have it.

3. Please can you also provide information on the use of dogs in firearms incidents.

Clarification:

By ‘provide information on the use of dogs in firearms incidents’ I mean what type of capacity are they used in or if they are used in at all for example as they used as in a firearms support dog capacity.

Response

I can confirm that this information is held by West Midlands Police. However, although we are releasing the requested information for questions 1 and 3 (see attached 920A_24_attachment.pdf), we are withholding the requested information for question 2 (CBRN training) under the exemptions provided by Section 24(1) (National security) and Section 31(1) (Law enforcement) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Details of these exemptions can be found on the College of Policing website at the following link:

https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/information-management/freedom-of-information/#freedom-of-information-exemptions

In line with the exemptions above, I am required to complete a Prejudice Test/Public Interest Test (PIT) on disclosure. Please find this PIT attached (920A_24_PIT.pdf).