Lewes District Council report me to the Old Bill!

[Waterhall Wizard]

Do Sussex Police have a policy of contacting people by email, rather than by phone or personal visit?

Roz, on reading your post that was my first thought. Have you taken steps to ascertain that the email was indeed sent by Sussex Police?

 

[Bwian]

Does this mean we can play with them as well? I suggest we spend a little time surfing around their website, identifying anything which may break the law, however tenuously, and report them for it.

I sent in a request for information under the FOI act, sent it directly to DeVagi who ignored the request and denied ever receiving it. I complained and got told she had been busy with the Falmer Stadium issues. Why they mentioned that I have no idea but it shows the frigging hypocrisy of LDC-call in the law about the poster but ignore a legitimate request and break the law in the process. Do I report her?

 

[mona]

This is what one would expect from this bunch of jokers. The time is now right to publicise their antics nationally. They are a bunch of cranks and will be an embarrassment to a party that wishes to challenge the two party system.

Please don't let them get you down, Roz.

 

[Yorkie]

I sent in a request for information under the FOI act, sent it directly to DeVagi who ignored the request and denied ever receiving it. I complained and got told she had been busy with the Falmer Stadium issues. Why they mentioned that I have no idea but it shows the frigging hypocrisy of LDC-call in the law about the poster but ignore a legitimate request and break the law in the process. Do I report her?

Yes

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Hmmmm. De Vecchis husband is throwing his fists around, De Vecchi herself is trying to bury herself in work and anything work related. I think their sex life has gone down the pan and they are taking it out of everyone or anything close to hand.

Try Viagra.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

I sent in a request for information under the FOI act, sent it directly to DeVagi who ignored the request and denied ever receiving it. I complained and got told she had been busy with the Falmer Stadium issues. Why they mentioned that I have no idea but it shows the frigging hypocrisy of LDC-call in the law about the poster but ignore a legitimate request and break the law in the process. Do I report her?

Yes - she has a specified amount of time to respond (21 days, IIRC), even if it's just a holding letter. Failure to respond means a fine....

You need to be careful that you don't get targetted as a vexatious correspondent, which means that they can ignore your requests. However, if you really want to be a pain in the arse, you can write in any UK recognised language and expect a reply in the same language. Have a little look on the website, see what languages they produce their booklets in, and use an online translator to turn your requests into that language. If they don't have a translator on staff, they will have to buy one in. Another fun way to cost them money is to write to them without putting a stamp on - they will have to pay to receive it. If you can find a Freepost address within LDC, even better!

If they want to be a pain in the arse, then we are more than

Below is a list of fees that they can charge - they will not charge for audio tape or braille.

"For other requests we have to estimate the cost of complying with the
request. In doing so, we take account of the cost of determining whether the
information is held and the cost of locating, retrieving and extracting the
information. The costs are calculated on the basis of an hourly rate of £25 a
person (this is a nationally set rate).
We are not allowed to take account of the cost of checking whether a request
is valid, considering exemptions, calculating fees, considering whether a
request is a repeated request or providing advice and assistance to enquirers."

So - even if they decide that they have to bill you for the request (you can always say "no, never mind") they have to carry out the investigation into validity first. Time consuming....

Fees they they can charge

This is the FOI page. Have fun

FOI Details Here

 

[perseus]

Roz, on reading your post that was my first thought. Have you taken steps to ascertain that the email was indeed sent by Sussex Police?

I have received from the Police after they read my web site.

I expect lots of people have. It is always nice to know somebody reads it. Their EMail address is a giveaway. Normal rules of conduct apply avoiding threats and libel.

 

[Bwian]

Yes

OK-I need the help of NSC before I send my official complaint.

Here is the first draft of my complaint-any suggestions to improve it?

Dear Ms Nield:

Thank you for your response-unfortunately Councillor DeVecchi's excuse is not good enough and I'm puzzled by her/your connection to the Falmer Stadium issue because I made no mention of the stadium at all in my original request? Maybe you could ask her why the Community Stadium in Brighton and Hove has any relevance to my request for information?

I believe Ms DeVecchi has deliberately ignored my request-thinking it was in some way connected to the undemocratic actions of LDC's Cabinet concerning the community stadium which was given planning permission after lengthy public inquiries. Why else would she mention the stadium when I made no mention of it?

As LDC's Assistant Freedom of Information Officer I am requesting that you provide me with the necessary instructions to make an official and formal complaint against Councillor DeVecchi and Lewes District Council for failing to comply with my original request under the Freedom of Information Act. I do not believe Councillor DeVecchi when she denies receiving a request from me. If, as she claims, my email was never received then it would suggest that there is, or was, something wrong with the council's computer system-please provide the necessary evidence of a computer system malfunction on December 4, 2005 if this is the claim of Councillor DeVecchi.

This email is my notification to you and LDC that I intend making a formal complaint to the appropriate Government department that Councillor DeVecchi and Lewes District Council have not complied with the Freedom of Information Act.

Yours

Something like that Hants Seagull?

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Watch out Roz , LDC might also tell the FBI and CIA that being an Al Bion supporter is a splinter cell of Al Qaeda and they'll be round your house looking for weapons of mass destruction. What a waste of time and resources when you consider that if you get burgled or mugged you're unlikely to get a visit, just a crime incident log number.

 

[Lady Bracknell]

I can confirm that the email is from Sussex Police. It's not unusual for them to act on complaints about stuff on websites by emailing the "culprit" - especially if the stuff the complaint has been made about isn't actually criminal. They've got to act on complaints although I just bet they'd be a deal slower to act if it wasn't LDC and Ann de Vecchi - who used to be married to a copper as it happens!

I suppose it does at least save the cost of sending cars full of OB out here to besiege the house or clap me in the manacles.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

I have received from the Police after they read my web site.

I expect lots of people have. It is always nice to know somebody reads it. Their EMail address is a giveaway. Normal rules of conduct apply avoiding threats and libel.

That's bollocks. Spoofing and redirecting are easy enough. Why do you think everyone falls for the PayPal/Ebay phishing emails?

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

OK-I need the help of NSC before I send my official complaint.

Here is the first draft of my complaint-any suggestions to improve it?

Dear Ms Nield:

Thank you for your response-unfortunately Councillor DeVecchi's excuse is not good enough and I'm puzzled by her/your connection to the Falmer Stadium issue because I made no mention of the stadium at all in my original request? Maybe you could ask her why the Community Stadium in Brighton and Hove has any relevance to my request for information?

I believe Ms DeVecchi has deliberately ignored my request-thinking it was in some way connected to the undemocratic actions of LDC's Cabinet concerning the community stadium which was given planning permission after lengthy public inquiries. Why else would she mention the stadium when I made no mention of it?

As LDC's Assistant Freedom of Information Officer I am requesting that you provide me with the necessary instructions to make an official and formal complaint against Councillor DeVecchi and Lewes District Council for failing to comply with my original request under the Freedom of Information Act. I do not believe Councillor DeVecchi when she denies receiving a request from me. If, as she claims, my email was never received then it would suggest that there is, or was, something wrong with the council's computer system-please provide the necessary evidence of a computer system malfunction on December 4, 2005 if this is the claim of Councillor DeVecchi.

This email is my notification to you and LDC that I intend making a formal complaint to the appropriate Government department that Councillor DeVecchi and Lewes District Council have not complied with the Freedom of Information Act.

Yours

Something like that Hants Seagull?

Sounds good enough. Point out that even if you sent it to Ms DV, and she is not part of the FOI process, that she is duty bound (iaw the website instructions) to forward the email to the correct person. You could always request to see the email logs for the date/time of your despatch (+1 hour to allow for firewalling, etc).

They cannot encourage email applications if their system "loses" it!

You also need to ask the Police on what basis the complaint has been made, and on what basis they expect you to change the picture/wording. If no offence has been committed, then they are being a bit cheeky!

 

[Windmill]

Well i like your poster Roz, in fact I an going to download some and post them around Tadley. That may well prove interesting!

 

[Windmill]

Right. i've downloaded some posters. I'm going to display them around the town, with a note to qualify what they refer to. The LibDems are active in the area, and I intend to e.mail them as well, send them a copy of the poster and ask for their comments.

 

[perseus]

That's bollocks. Spoofing and redirecting are easy enough. Why do you think everyone falls for the PayPal/Ebay phishing emails?

The normal process is to EMail them back to confirm they sent it. If it is a imposter the Email will bounce.

Impersonating a Police Officer is now an arrestable offence.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Lewes Lib Dems simply don't get it, do they?

They are so ignorant of the history of this football club that they don't understand why thousands of Albion supporters associate them with a plot to kill off the Albion.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

The normal process is to EMail them back to confirm they sent it. If it is a imposter the Email will bounce.

Impersonating a Police Officer is now an arrestable offence.

Nope - the email is constructed so that the return address is a genuine one - it won't bounce (or sometimes it will mask and be directed to a different place). It really is quite simple - the email is built from a command line - even checking the header information won't always show where it comes from. However, many emails show routing information, so you can, if you know what you are doing, track back through email servers and IP addresses. You then need to use a WHOIS to see the location/ownership of the originator (if you can see it). I have friends who do this for a living (tracking, not creating!), and I spent a couple of years doing something similar.

Impersonating a copper has been an offence for a long time!

If you are really bored, then take a look at these...

CERT Information Notice

Comp Forensics

 

[perseus]

Nope - the email is constructed so that the return address is a genuine one - it won't bounce (or sometimes it will mask and be directed to a different place). It really is quite simple - the email is built from a command line - even checking the header information won't always show where it comes from. However, many emails show routing information, so you can, if you know what you are doing, track back through email servers and IP addresses. You then need to use a WHOIS to see the location/ownership of the originator (if you can see it). I have friends who do this for a living (tracking, not creating!), and I spent a couple of years doing something similar.

Impersonating a copper has been an offence for a long time!

If you are really bored, then take a look at these...

CERT Information Notice



Comp Forensics

I expect you are right. The Police will usually reply.

Spoofs are quite common. They are usually spotted though.

Problems arise when your own Email address has been spoofed. I think it is the virus software that that finds the EMail address book and gains the email addresses it uses as selected spoofs?
So if you are on an address book list of somebody who fails to stop a virus, there is a nuisance.

PS: Any extra information appreciated. I have never had any trouble mistaking a genuine from a spoofer, but there is always a first time.

 

[NMH]

I can confirm that the email is from Sussex Police. It's not unusual for them to act on complaints about stuff on websites by emailing the "culprit" - especially if the stuff the complaint has been made about isn't actually criminal. They've got to act on complaints although I just bet they'd be a deal slower to act if it wasn't LDC and Ann de Vecchi - who used to be married to a copper as it happens!

I suppose it does at least save the cost of sending cars full of OB out here to besiege the house or clap me in the manacles.

Leave it up then, it'll require more complaining from the LDC rep, and they'd have to jump through some lengthy hoops to force the issue until you are actually forced to remove anything! It'll be like training LDC for Crufts

 

[perseus]

If they take to the Magistrates and order you to remove the Poster, you could always either find an alternative site to put the Poster or take the matter to Judicial Review. So you could advise LDC that an alternative site is not available.