Request ID: FOI-1194-2425 Date published: 08 August 2024
You asked
Hello,
I wanted to request the names of all the London Underground Depots and the best places for me to be able to see them.
Thank you,
We answered
Our ref: FOI-1194-2425/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 13 July 2024, and for providing your full name.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. However, we consider that the information requested is exempt from disclosure under sections 31 (law enforcement), 38 (health and safety) of the Freedom of Information Act. The rationale for the application of each is given below.Whilst we make no suggestion that you would use this information for anything other than you own personal interest, disclosure of this information to you has to be regarded as a disclosure to ‘the public at large’. This information could potentially be obtained and utilised by individuals who may wish to use this information to cause disruption or harm to the London Underground network and other transport modes.
Section 31 applies where release of information would be likely to prejudice the prevention of crime. As you will no doubt be aware, the TfL network can often be the target of graffiti and other vandalism, and anything that encourages this is detrimental to our efforts to combat it. We have avoided releasing information about the location of assets on the TfL network in the past and we continue to be very cautious about encouraging vandalism by releasing any information that makes TfL assets an attractive target by increasing awareness.
It is clear to us that any increase in graffiti attempts on our network translates into an increased danger to health and safety, not only for those committing the trespass into inherently dangerous areas of the network (as evidenced in the news articles above), but also to the TfL employees and law enforcement personnel who work in these areas and who have to deal with the consequences.
These exemptions are “qualified”, meaning we have to consider whether the greater public interest rests in them applying and the information being withheld, or in releasing the information in any event. TfL recognises that there is an inherent public interest in 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 know where depots are. On the other hand, there is a very strong public interest in discouraging graffiti and other forms of vandalism on the network, in order to protect the spending of public money and to protect the health and safety of perpetrators and staff. As outlined above, we consider that the publication of this information would be likely to increase graffiti or security breach attempts on the network. We consider that the inherent public interest in openness and scrutiny of our expenditure is to a large extent satisfied by the information that TfL already publishes, such as via our Annual Report and Accounts, and therefore believe that the balance of public interest rests with the exemptions applying.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt
FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
