Request ID: FOI-3951-2324 Date published: 29 February 2024
You asked
The number of CCTV cameras in operation managed by Transport for London in the TfL network.
And;
A breakdown of the number of CCTV cameras operated by TfL by the company that manufactured the cameras.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-3951-2324
Thank you for your request received on 6 February 2024 asking for information about CCTV cameras.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. You asked for:
The number of CCTV cameras in operation managed by Transport for London in the TfL network.
We publish information on why Transport for London uses CCTV and surveillance cameras on our website: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/privacy-and-cookies/cctv.
The information you have requested was recently provided in response to another request:
Under section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act, we are not obliged to provide you with information which is reasonably accessible by other means.
A breakdown of the number of CCTV cameras operated by TfL by the company that manufactured the cameras.
The information you have requested is exempt from disclosure under section 31(1)(a) Law Enforcement which relates to all aspects of the prevention and detection of crime and section 43(2) – prejudice to commercial interests of the FOI Act. In both cases, we consider that the release of this information would be likely to cause the prejudice or harm indicated by the exemptions, by potentially enabling people to vandalise our cameras.
Section 31(1)(a) applies where release of information would be likely to prejudice the prevention of crime. Our network can often be the target of graffiti and other vandalism, and anything that encourages this or can be used to assist with this criminal activity is detrimental to our efforts to combat it. Whilst we make no suggestion that you would use this information for anything other than you own personal interest, disclosure of this information to you has to be regarded as a disclosure to ‘the public at large’. By disclosing information on the manufacturer of the cameras we believe that it could help people identify any possible vulnerabilities and therefore make them more susceptible to damage.
In relation to section 43(2) – prejudice to commercial interests, there is a clear direct financial cost to us in dealing with vandalism both in terms of protecting cameras from such crime and in dealing with the consequences when it does occur. These costs comprise the repair works as well as the subsequent disruption it causes to our services in having to repair cameras and close sections of the network or our stations to facilitate this. This not only leads to significant delays and inconvenience for our customers, but also has direct financial consequences for us in deterring and dealing with the effects of the vandalism.
The use of these exemptions is 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, and in particular where this relates to the maintenance of public assets and the effective expenditure of public funds. However, there is also a very strong public interest in preventing crime and in protecting the commercial interests of us as a public authority. Therefore, in this instance we feel that the balance lies in favour of withholding the information to ensure that we are able to minimise the number of potential incidents of vandalism incidents which could have considerable implications for law enforcement, public safety, and our expenditure.
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
