Request ID: FOI-0362-2324 Date published: 31 May 2023
You asked
Please can you advise me how many ULEZ cameras have been installed in the expanded ULEZ?
Of these, how many have been vandalised (sprayed, had their wires cut etc) or removed?
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0362-2324 Thank you for your request received on 9 May 2023 asking for information about the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion cameras. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. As of 28 April 2023, c.990 new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed. As explained in our published Road User Charging Privacy Notice (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/privacy-and-cookies/road-user-charging), from early May 2023 (before the expanded scheme formally begins), the newly installed cameras will be used to test the technical infrastructure that links the camera network to the Road User Charging back office systems and also ensure that cameras are capturing vehicle data correctly and at the right volumes. We will also use the cameras for business planning purposes (e.g. resourcing and system capacity requirements), traffic monitoring (using pseudonymised data) as well as to inform our awareness campaign for the expanded zone. Any cameras installed before May 2023 were operational, in order to check they had been installed correctly, but any vehicle data collected was not retained or used for any purpose. 29 August 2023 is the single go-live date for the scheme. Once the scheme is live from 29 August 2023 the newly installed outer London ANPR cameras will also be used to enforce LEZ. The information you have requested regarding how many of the cameras have been vandalised is exempt from disclosure under section 31(1)(a) Law Enforcement which relates to all aspects of the prevention and detection of crime, section 38 - Health and Safety, and section 43(2) – prejudice to commercial interests of the FOI Act. In all three cases, we consider that the release of this information would be likely to cause the prejudice or harm indicated by the exemptions, by encouraging vandalism to target our traffic enforcement cameras. The rationale for this is explained in more detail in a response available on our website: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-0226-2324 If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal. Yours sincerely Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London [email protected]
