Request ID: FOI-0746-2425 Date published: 01 July 2024
You asked
Please may you provide me with responses to the following questions:
1. How much total profit did TfL generate from the sale of unclaimed lost property in
i) 2022/23
ii) 2021/22
iii) 2020/21
2. What were the three sales of unclaimed lost property which generated the most profit in
i) 2022/23
ii) 2021/22
iii) 2020/21
3. What was the total cost of running the TfL lost property office in
i) 2022/23
ii) 2021/22
iii) 2020/21
Thank you for your requests received on 4 June 2024 asking for information about the Lost Property Office (LPO).
Your requests have been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.
Our Lost Property Office receives hundreds of thousands of lost items every year, which are individually catalogued and stored securely, with the details used to match against customer enquiries. Please note that all bags/containers are stored in a secure area and any items with personal or sensitive data are securely destroyed after three months if not sold or collected. We securely remove any personal data from any such items prior to sale.
You asked for:
FOI-0746-2425
1. How much total profit did TfL generate from the sale of unclaimed lost property in i. 2022/23 ii. 2021/22 iii. 2020/21
Information for 2020/21 and 2021/22 is routinely published as part of our Lost Property Office data:
Under section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to provide you with information which is reasonably accessible by other means.
In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the requested information for 2022/23 as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 22 of the Act. In this instance the exemption has been applied as the information you have requested is intended for future publication later this summer.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to assess whether the public interest in applying the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure. In this instance, it is considered that the public interest favours the publication of this information, in context and according to the pre-determined schedule, rather than in response to your request, to ensure the information is provided accurately and in an accessible manner.
2. What were the three sales of unclaimed lost property which generated the most profit in i. 2022/23 ii. 2021/22 iii. 2020/21
Information for 2020/21 was provided in response to a recent FOI request:
Under section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act, we are not obliged to provide you with information which is reasonably accessible by other means.
FOI-0747-2425
For each of the items listed (A-G) below please can you provide the following information with regard to the 2022/23 year:
1) How many were logged as lost property by TfL?
2) How many were reclaimed/returned to the owner?
3) How many were auctioned by TfL for profit?
4) Of those auctioned, how much total profit was generated?
5) How many were otherwise disposed of by TfL?
Items: A. False limbs B. Laptops C. Fancy dress costumes D. Parliament security passes E. Taxidermy F. Sex toys G. Stuffed toys
Please find the requested information below:
2022/2023
How many Logged
How many Returned to owner
How many Auctioned
Auction Settlement to TfL
False limbs
0
0
0
0
Laptops
527
178
204
£20,736.69
Fancy dress costumes
42
0
4
£10.00
Parliament Security Passes
0
0
0
0
Taxidermy
0
0
0
0
Sex toys
15
4
0
0
Stuffed toys
574
23
0
0
Due to the volume of items dealt with by the LPO we do not keep a record of the number of items that are disposed of. The following is an indication of what we do with the respective items listed above:
Send to Auction Laptops New or expensive clothing Taxidermy
Send to Charities False limbs Clothing Stuffed toys
Personal Data Items - Securely Destroyed Security and ID passes
Please note that the data above is correct as of 27 June 2024.
FOI-0748-2425
How much money was generated by fees for the collection of lost property from the TfL Lost Property Office in i) 2022/23 ii) 2021/22 iii) 2020/21
This information is also routinely published as part of our Lost Property Office data:
