TfL Ref: FOI-2466-1617

Thank you for your email received by us on 09 March 2017 asking for information about the Blackwall Tunnel.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and TfL’s information access policy.  I can confirm we do hold the information you require.

However, in accordance with the FOI Act we are not obliged to supply this information as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 24 (National security) and section 31(1)(a) (Prevention and detection of crime). 

Whilst we make no suggestion that you would use this information for anything other than your 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 our network. The London transport system is a critical piece of national infrastructure and as such we employ rigorous safeguards to protect it from security attack.

In addition to concerns about the security of the tunnel, we consider that releasing information about the number of CCTV cameras would be likely to prejudice the apprehension or prosecution of offenders or the exercise of functions for the purpose of ascertaining whether any person has failed to comply with the law.

In this instance the exemption has been applied as to provide the information you have asked for would in effect disclose how well monitored the tunnel is. The purpose of enforcement is to deter drivers from contravening restrictions that are in place and penalty charge notices (PCNs) are issued accordingly. Disclosing information which reveals how many CCTV cameras are in operation could lead to a decrease in compliance with traffic restrictions at those locations, which would adversely affect the flow of traffic on the network and impact on TfL’s Network Management Duty. Further, this could lead to a need to increase enforcement at those locations, which would mean increasing enforcement expenditure which would need to be paid for from public funds.

The use of these exemptions are subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned.  We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, but in this instance we consider that there is greater public interest in protecting the security of the London transport network and ensuing that we are able to continue to comply with our Network Management Duty while making the best use of public funds.

There have been 31 fixed penalty notices issued in each bore for contraventions of the solid white line offences since 1 January 2017 to now; which have come as a direct result of the information provided by the CCTV cameras inside the tunnels.

If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Paulina Tuffour
FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London