Request ID: FOI-1222-2324 Date published: 14 August 2023
You asked
1. Please provide the number of CCTV cameras that TfL operates. A grand total for 2013 and a grand total for 2023.
2. Please provide a current list of locations, showing the camera type and lat/long (CSV format).
3. Please provide a yearly headline total spend TfL allocates to new and existing CCTV cameras.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1222-2324
Thank you for providing your full name received by Transport for London (TfL) on21 July 2023 for your request asking for information about CCTV cameras.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
Specifically you asked:
“1. Please provide the number of CCTV cameras that TfL operates. A grand total for 2013 and a grand total for 2023.
2. Please provide a current list of locations, showing the camera type and lat/long (CSV format).
3. Please provide a yearly headline total spend TfL allocates to new and existing CCTV cameras.”
Unfortunately, to provide the information you have requested would exceed the ‘appropriate limit’ of £450 set by the Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. Under section 12 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to comply with a request if we estimate that the cost of determining whether we hold the information, locating and retrieving it and extracting it from other information would exceed the appropriate limit. This is calculated at £25 per hour for every hour spent on the activities described.
We have estimated that it would cost over £450 to provide a response to your request. This is because it is estimated that it would take in excess of 18 working hours to retrieve and compile the information you have requested. The information requested is not recorded centrally, and therefore the management, maintenance and expenditure on CCTV cameras is spread across multiple departments within TfL, and is covered by multiple different contracts depending on the CCTV type, purpose and location.
To help bring the cost of responding to your request within the £450 limit, you may wish to consider narrowing its scope so that we can more easily locate, retrieve and extract the information you are seeking. If you want to refine your request or make a Freedom of Information Act request in future, please bear in mind that the Freedom of Information Act allows you to request recorded information held by us. You should identify the information that you want as clearly and concisely as you can, specifying the types of document that you are looking for. You might also consider limiting your request to a particular period of time, geographical area or specific departments of the organisation. Additionally, please see the link to the Questions to the Mayor page where information relating to CCTV cameras, relevant to questions 1 and 2, will be published in the future: https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/find-an-answer/cctv-cameras-4.
Although your request can take the form of a question, rather than a request for specific documents, we do not have to answer your question if it would require the creation of new information or the provision of a judgement, explanation, advice or opinion that was not already recorded at the time of your request.
Please note that we will not be taking further action until we receive your revised request.
In the meantime, if you have any queries or would like to discuss your request, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Mary Abidakun FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
