Request ID: FOI-1563-2223 Date published: 21 October 2022
You asked
How many reports have there been of buses being targeted by people throwing missiles (e.g. bricks, stones) in each of these financial years a) 2017/18 b) 2018/19 c) 2019/20 d) 2020/21 e) 2021/22
For 2021/22, please provide a breakdown of each report, giving brief details of the incident
How many bus stops are currently "no go zones" - i.e. drivers have been told not to stop there due to safety concerns.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1563-2223
Thank you for your request received on 1 October 2022 asking for information about incidents of projectiles aimed at buses.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.
How many reports have there been of buses being targeted by people throwing missiles (e.g. bricks, stones) in each of these financial years a) 2017/18 b) 2018/19 c) 2019/20 d) 2020/21 e) 2021/22
For 2021/22, please provide a breakdown of each report, giving brief details of the incident
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 current 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.
We are not able to report on incidents of buses being targeted by people throwing ‘missiles’. We are able to provide information against a category of ‘object thrown at bus’ incidents. However, these reports do not always provide detail on what the object was. Additionally, incidents where an injury was caused to a person, due to flying glass for example, would be coded differently. In order to capture all of the incidents requested we would need to review each report separately in order to determine whether they were relevant to your request.
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 consider limiting your request to a particular period of time or a specific route.
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.
How many bus stops are currently "no go zones" - i.e. drivers have been told not to stop there due to safety concerns.
There are no areas that are regarded as “no go zones”. On rare occasions where a bus is temporarily withdrawn from service due to an incident of anti-social behaviour, such as people throwing items along the route, then we would work closely with the police to ensure that these issues do not escalate. Many ‘minor’ incidents are reported as soon as possible to police and a crime reference number obtained so that they can be investigated thoroughly and the situation resolved.
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
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
