Request ID: FOI-0616-2425 Date published: 12 June 2024
You asked
Is the camera located in A406 Hanger Ln nr Greystone Gdns S/B W5 (6529) connected to another camera and the speed limit is the average between these two? Or there is a speed limit in the camera 6529 and what is the speed limit?
We answered
TfL Ref: 0616-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 21 May 2024 asking for information about speed cameras.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. Your questions and our replies are as follows: Is the camera located in A406 Hanger Ln nr Greystone Gdns S/B W5 (6529) conected to another camera and the speed limit is the average between these two? Or there is a speed limit in the camera 6529 and what is the speed limit?
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. We can confirm that the speed limit on that stretch of road is 30mph.
However, in accordance with the EIR, we are not obliged to supply the remainder of the information as it is subject to a statutory exception to the right of access to information under regulations R12(5)(a) – “international relations, defence, national security & public safety” (in this instance specifically public safety), and regulation 12(5)(b) – “the course of justice, the ability of a person to receive a fair trial or the ability of the public authority to conduct and inquiry of a criminal or disciplinary nature” (in this instance specifically the course of justice).
This is because the release of this information would enable the locations of our enforcement cameras to be identified and potentially targeted by vandals intent on causing disruption to our infrastructure. Some of our enforcement cameras have recently been targeted and this poses a risk to the safety of individuals both when carrying out vandalism and also to passers by. By confirming that certain specific cameras are speed cameras, we risk our ULEZ cameras in particular to be identified which would cause them to become a target for vandalism.We therefore believe that there is good reason to conclude that release of the requested information would lead to an increase in incidents of vandalism to our cameras by encouraging other like-minded individuals to do the same, therefore there is a risk to the health and safety of individuals.
In addition, the release of this information (or similar information in relation to other areas) would reveal locations where enforcement activity is less likely to be implemented and may therefore encourage people to ignore restrictions at those locations. Whilst we make no suggestion that you would use this information for anything other than your own interest, the disclosure of information under FOI is regarded as a disclosure to the public at large rather than to the individual applicant.
The use of these exceptions is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency, and in particular where this relates to the maintenance of public assets and the effective expenditure of public funds. In this case, it may also be of interest in enabling the general public to understand the extent of the problem of vandalism and speeding on TfL’s road network. However, we do not consider that there are any other public interest factors in favour of the disclosure of this information, which otherwise is only likely to be of interest to those who follow and/or commit vandalism or want to avoid speeding restrictions. On the other hand, there is a very strong public interest in preventing further crime, in protecting the health and safety of individuals, and in the smooth running of the road network.
Therefore, in this instance we feel that the balance lies in favour of withholding the information to ensure that we are able to minimise the number of potential incidents of vandalism and speeding which could have considerable implications for law enforcement and public safety.
This approach has recently been agreed by the Information Commissioner in relation to similar, previous requests as can be seen in the following Decision Notices - the same arguments apply in your case:
