FOI request detail

Auto Phone recordings

Request ID: FOI-2876-1819
Date published: 31 May 2019

You asked
1) Is transport For London internal phone(auto phone) conversations are recorded? 2) if it is recorded then how long the recordings are kept? 3) Who is the custodian of these recordings?

We answered

TfL Ref: 2876-1819

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 26 January 2019 asking for information about whether our internal phone(auto phone) conversations are recorded.

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.  Our response to your questions is below:

  1. Is transport For London internal phone(auto phone) conversations are recorded?

TfL does not record all calls and it’s dependant on the need/requirement and varies by department. Some calls are recorded for Training, Operational or Compliance purposes.

2) if it is recorded then how long the recordings are kept?

The length of time voice recordings are retained varies from site to site and is dependent on the local department and its need to meet requirements based on either training, operational or compliance amongst other business needs.  Agreed retention periods are set in the voice recorder settings. Once the time period has lapsed recordings are automatically deleted and are no longer recoverable.

3) Who is the custodian of these recordings?

Different Service Owners within the organisation look after the different recording platforms. In some case where recordings are archived to external media, local users are responsible for the safekeeping of these recordings inline with any agreed departmental retention periods.

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 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

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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