Request ID: FOI-2470-2324 Date published: 01 December 2023
You asked
---Please can you tell me since extended Outer London ULEZ began to date(13/10/2023)
1: The Cost of employing security per van
2: The Cost of employing the back up cars per van
3: Why are 9 security people needed for 1 van?
4: How much is the contract for the security and who are they?
5: Are the vans allowed to park outside schools? If so what risk assessments have been done?
6: Are the drivers and minders DBS checked?
7: Are the vans allowed to park on Double yellow Lines and grass verges?
8: Please submit the costs of this to date on a spreadsheet
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-2470-2324
Thank you for your request received on 13 October 2023 asking for information about the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) enforcement vans. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. You asked: Please can you tell me since extended Outer London ULEZ began to date(13/10/2023) 1. The Cost of employing security per van 2. The Cost of employing the back up cars per van 4. How much is the contract for the security and who are they? 8. Please submit the costs of this to date on a spreadsheet In accordance with the EIR, we are not obliged to supply the information as it is subject to a statutory exception to the right of access to information under regulations R12(5)(a) – international relations, defence, national security & public safety (in this instance specifically public safety), regulation 12(5)(b) – the course of justice, the ability of a person to receive a fair trial or the ability of the public authority to conduct and inquiry of a criminal or disciplinary nature – (in this instance specifically the course of justice), and regulation 12(5)(e) – confidentially of commercial or industrial information where such confidentiality is provide by law to protect a legitimate economic interest.
The rationale for this is explained in more detail in a published response to a previous information request which is available on our website here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-0970-2324 3. Why are 9 security people needed for 1 van? Staff accompanying these vans are not necessarily operating in a security role. Rather, they may be in attendance as operatives of the vans or providing transport for those staff. Where security personnel are used to support the vans they are suitably licensed by the Security Industry Authority. 5. Are the vans allowed to park outside schools? If so what risk assessments have been done? Operatives are permitted to drive and park on all roads in accordance with the Highway Code and are expected to adhere to local parking restrictions/requirements. We have requested that all sites that have been identified as within proximity of a school be removed from the van deployment lists. The ANPR cameras are focused on the road and are not intended to capture images of any driver or passenger in a vehicle, pedestrians on the street, or occupants of a building at any time. Before any camera is deployed it is tested by our engineers to ensure that it has the correct field of view and does not intrude into private or residential spaces. The cameras are also only ‘activated’ or ‘triggered’ by a moving vehicle on the road and so do not capture stationary/parked vehicles or other static objects or buildings. The cameras do not have any facial recognition software installed. The cameras cannot be remotely operated and do not have any pan, tilt or zoom capabilities that could be used to alter the direction or positioning of the camera. 6. Are the drivers and minders DBS checked? Operatives are vetted and screened to ISO18788 standards. This includes but is not limited to, verification of identity, employment history, criminal records and any other relevant information to assess their suitability for the role. 7. Are the vans allowed to park on Double yellow Lines and grass verges? As stated above, operatives are permitted to drive and park on all roads in accordance with the highway code and are expected to adhere to local parking restrictions/requirements. Please note that in some instances, the local authority or owner of the land, may require us to park on grass verges. If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, 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
