Roads and Transport Enforcement Officers
Request ID: FOI-1684-1920
Date published: 17 September 2019
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
Regarding your response to my second question [case ref FOI-1234-1920], under the FOI Act I would like to further know whether there were any "extenuating circumstances" on the 25th and 31st August 2019 making it necessary for RTEO team leaders to work from home?
Please also confirm if the RTEO team leaders rostered to work on these dates followed the correct procedure and requested to work from home, and who (i.e. grade or job title) authorised it?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1684-1920
Thank you for your further email of 31st August 2019 asking for information about Roads and Transport Enforcement Officer (RTEO) acting team leaders.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Regarding your response to my second question, under the FOI Act I would like to further know whether there were any "extenuating circumstances" on the 25th and 31st August 2019 making it necessary for RTEO team leaders to work from home? Please also confirm if the RTEO team leaders rostered to work on these dates followed the correct procedure and requested to work from home, and who (i.e. grade or job title) authorised it?”
I can confirm that we hold the requested information. However, it is exempt from release in line with section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, the exemption relating to personal data. This exemption applies where somebody can be identified from the information in question and where such identification would be unfair. In this case, the number of staff in these positions is so few that they, and other members of their team, would be able to identify exactly who the information relates to. The question of release therefore depends on whether or not it is fair on those individuals for information about their whereabouts on a given day to be put into the public domain. We do not believe that this is fair, and we do not believe that the individuals in question would expect such information to be released. Whether or not a member of TfL staff was in the office or at home on any given day, and the reasons why, is a matter between them and their management, and we can see no obvious public interest that would override the right of staff to have such personal data protected. To release such information would be a breach of the Data Protection Act (DPA), specifically the first principle of the DPA which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. Section 40(2) of the FOI Act (which ensures compliance with the DPA) is therefore engaged.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
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