Request ID: FOI-0553-2425 Date published: 08 July 2024
You asked
Since 1st March 2024 to 1st May 2024 inclusive:
How many ULEZ anpr cameras are in use across the ULEZ zone.
Do those camera photograph vehicle occupants?
What is the number of anpr camera uses to enforce the congestion charge zone?
How many fixed penalty notices relevant to ULEZ offences have been issued each month and what is the total since 1st March 2024?
What is that figure in respect of congestion charge zone?
Of the number of ULEZ penalty notices issued how many relate to vehicles which are carrying cloned number plates - ie vehicles carrying number plates which are not lawfully attributable to the vehicle that it is affixed to?
What is that figure in respect of congestion charge zone?
How many appeals have been made against enforcement notices arising from number plate irregularities ULEZ & congestion zone?
How many of those appeals have been upheld in each category of zone.
What is the daily average number of vehicle number plate reads by the ULEZ ANPR system?
What is that figure in respect of congestion charge zone?
How many vehicle number plates have been found to be unreadable to the ULEZ ANPR cameras either by full or partial concealment or other reason associated with the number plate and what percentage does this figure amount to in the context of total reads.
What is that figure in respect of congestion charge zone?
What other data do you retain regarding the problem of unreadable or cloned plates and what is the detail of that data.
How much loss of enforcement revenue do you estimate is caused to ULEZ enforcement arising from an absence of integrity of vehicle number plates.
What is that figure in respect of congestion charge zone?
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0553-2425
Thank you for your request received on 15 May 2024 asking for information about Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) enforcement. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked: Since 1st March 2024 to 1st May 2024 inclusive: • How many ULEZ anpr cameras are in use across the ULEZ zone. There are more than 3,700 cameras in place across the London-wide ULEZ. Please note these cameras are also used for the operation of Congestion Charging, the Low Emission Zone and the Direct Vision Standard. • Do those camera photograph vehicle occupants? No, the cameras do not capture vehicle occupants. More information on the data collected for the operation of our Road User Charging schemes is available on our website: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/privacy-and-cookies/road-user-charging. • What is the number of anpr camera uses to enforce the congestion charge zone? 252 of the above cameras are located at the boundary of and within the central London Congestion Charging zone. • How many fixed penalty notices relevant to ULEZ offences have been issued each month and what is the total since 1st March 2024? • What is that figure in respect of congestion charge zone? Please see this information below for penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued for non-payment of the ULEZ and Congestion Charge between 1 March 2024 and 31 May 2024.
Month
ULEZ PCNs
Congestion Charge PCNs
March
194,811
78,896
April
188,709
76,411
May
188,773
83,388
Total
572,293
238,695
• Of the number of ULEZ penalty notices issued how many relate to vehicles which are carrying cloned number plates - ie vehicles carrying number plates which are not lawfully attributable to the vehicle that it is affixed to? Vehicle cloning is a criminal matter, which the police enforce and prosecute. When a vehicle is suspected of being cloned there is an established process and the Auto Pay account holder has 90 days to dispute any charges they believe to be incorrectly applied to their account. They can submit any evidence that they believe demonstrates the PCN has been incorrectly issued due to their vehicle registration being cloned. This includes, but is not limited to: • Proof of vehicle at a different location for the date and time of the contravention e.g. tracker report, statement from a colleague or neighbour • Affidavit/witness statement affirming vehicle was not at location but elsewhere • Photos showing differences between their vehicle and the vehicle captured • Crime reference number TfL’s policy is for no PCN to progress after evidence of vehicle cloning has been provided. On receipt, and verification of, this evidence, the representation will be accepted and the PCN cancelled if the evidence provided is sufficient to establish the vehicle has been cloned. Of the 572,293 PCNs issued between 1 March 2024 and 31 May 2024, 1,864 were cancelled after representations were made and evidence of cloned plates was received. This relates to 0.3% of PCNs being cancelled since 1 March due to cloning issues.
• What is that figure in respect of congestion charge zone? Of the 238,695 PCNS issued over this period, 260 were cancelled after representations were made and evidence of cloned plates was received. This relates to 0.1% of PCNs being cancelled since 1 March due to cloning issues. • How many appeals have been made against enforcement notices arising from number plate irregularities ULEZ & congestion zone? • How many of those appeals have been upheld in each category of zone. When a motorist receives a penalty they can challenge it by submitting a representation to us. If the representation is accepted the penalty is cancelled and if it is rejected the motorist has a further right to appeal against this decision to an Independent Adjudicator at London Tribunals. If the appeal is allowed the penalty is cancelled and if refused it remains outstanding.
The most current and accurate information is held by London Tribunals and can be requested from them via their website: https://www.londontribunals.gov.uk/. Full details of the process around challenging a PCN and the relevant figures are available on our website: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-4617-2324. • What is the daily average number of vehicle number plate reads by the ULEZ ANPR system? • What is that figure in respect of congestion charge zone? This information is recorded in our fact sheets which are available online at the links below: ULEZ compliance data - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk) London-wide Ultra Low Emission Zone First Month Report | London City Hall Ultra Low Emission Zone - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk) Congestion Charge - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk) • How many vehicle number plates have been found to be unreadable to the ULEZ ANPR cameras either by full or partial concealment or other reason associated with the number plate and what percentage does this figure amount to in the context of total reads. • What is that figure in respect of congestion charge zone? It is important to note that when a vehicle is driven in one of our charging zones it is usually captured by more than one camera. Therefore, if it is partially read on one occasion it is likely to be fully read by another camera during the same journey. As such partial or misread plate does not always indicate the vehicle has evaded the scheme. We cannot split misreads and partial reads by scheme and we only retain this data for three months. Between 1 March 2024 and 22 May 2024 there have been a total of 270,053,092 plate captures, of which 4,411,557 (1.6%) were unreadable captures. Please note that a partial or misread plate may have been correctly read on the same day so it is possible that some of the plates included in the misreads will also be included in correct reads. • What other data do you retain regarding the problem of unreadable or cloned plates and what is the detail of that data. We do not retain unreadable data. It is important to note that when a vehicle is driven in one of our charging zones it is usually captured by more than one camera. Therefore, if it is partially read or unreadable on one occasion it is likely to be fully read by another camera during the same journey.
• How much loss of enforcement revenue do you estimate is caused to ULEZ enforcement arising from an absence of integrity of vehicle number plates. • What is that figure in respect of congestion charge zone? We do not record this information. 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
