Request ID: FOI-2634-2223 Date published: 13 February 2023
You asked
1. What types of cameras are used across all Transport for London services, including but not limited to the London Underground, London Buses, London Overground and road cameras?
2. Can you provide the cost incurred for the cameras, labor and software, separated by each category?
I am interested in the cost of purchase of the cameras (how many were purchased and how much each unit cost), the installation cost, and the cost of the software used to manage the cameras.
3. Is it possible for members of the public to request access to live video feeds or footage captured by these cameras? If so, please provide details on the process for making such a request.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2634-2223
Thank you for your clarified request which we received on 25 January 2023, asking for information about TfL’s cameras.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:
What types of cameras are used across all Transport for London services, including but not limited to the London Underground, London Buses, London Overground and road cameras?
There is an extensive network of more than 77,000 CCTV cameras operating across London’s transport network including the Tube. Please note new systems and cameras are added as well as taken out of use, therefore this figure is subject to change. Our CCTV is used to capture and monitor images of events that take place in specific locations in real time. Some TfL employees are also issued with body worn CCTV cameras. We have ANPR cameras that are used to enforce our Road User Charging schemes (such as Congestion Charge, Low Emission Zone and Ultra Low Emission Zone). ANPR cameras capture number plate data in the form of text rather than images.
We have surveillance cameras in and around the following locations:
London Underground stations, depots, car parks and trains
The Elizabeth Line stations and trains
Across London's road and tunnels network for monitoring road traffic and for traffic enforcement (including a number of mobile cameras, which can be deployed at various locations)
Across London's road network for enforcement of our Road User Charging Schemes
TfL bus stations
Santander Cycles docking stations
London Cable Car
Piers operated by London River Services;
Piers used by Woolwich Ferry services and on the Woolwich ferries
Victoria Coach Station
Dial-a-Ride vehicles and depots
Kings Cross Visitor Centre
Our office buildings, control centres and other parts of the transport network where it's necessary to restrict public access.
2. Can you provide the cost incurred for the cameras, labour and software, separated by each category? I am interested in the cost of purchase of the cameras (how many were purchased and how much each unit cost), the installation cost, and the cost of the software used to manage the 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 considerably exceed the cost limit to provide a response to your current request.
As shown above, we use different types of cameras that have been purchased over the years and the cost can vary significantly. It’s not possible to breakdown the costs incurred for the cameras in the manner that you have requested as this is not something that is held centrally. We don’t have a dedicated CCTV labour or software teams - the installation is carried out by multiple contracts and the software is multifunctional. We would have to manually identify and search a number of different departments across TfL to try to locate the information you require. 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. 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 shorter period of time, geographical area or specific departments of TfL. Please note, price per unit and any other detailed cost breakdown may be exempt from disclosure under Section 43 (Commercial Interests) of the Freedom of Information Act, as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice our commercial interests, as well as those of our suppliers and contractors.
Please note that we will not be taking further action until we receive your revised request.
3. Is it possible for members of the public to request access to live video feeds or footage captured by these cameras? If so, please provide details on the process for making such a request. This is explained in more detail on the transparency pages of the TfL website available via this link; https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/privacy-and-cookies/cctv In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with a copy of the requested information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal. Yours sincerely
Eva Hextall FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
