Request ID: FOI-4371-2324 Date published: 18 March 2024
You asked
Dear Sir/Madam,
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am writing to request information regarding the calibration of speed cameras managed by your authority. Specifically, I am interested in:
1. A list of all speed cameras under your jurisdiction as today.
2. The dates of the last calibration check for each camera listed, including the location (or identification number) of each camera.
3. Details of the calibration process: Please include information on how these calibrations are conducted and by whom (e.g., an internal team or an external contractor).
4. Any documentation or reports generated as a result of the last calibration checks for these cameras.
5. If available, the next scheduled calibration dates for these cameras.
Please provide this information in electronic format where possible.
If my request is too broad or unclear, or if you anticipate any delays in providing the requested information, I would be grateful if you could contact me as soon as possible.
Additionally, if you need any clarification from me to facilitate your search for the requested information, please do not hesitate to get in touch. I understand that under the Act, you are required to respond to this request within 20 working days of receiving it. I look forward to your prompt response.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-4371-2324/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 26 February 2024 asking for information about speed cameras.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we do hold some of the information you require, however, given the extent of the information you are looking for, we are applying Regulation 12(4)(b) as we believe that the request is ‘manifestly unreasonable’ because providing the information you have requested would impose unreasonable costs on us and require an unreasonable diversion of resources.
You have requested information relating to over 800 cameras.To locate and collate the requested information for each of these cameras would take an excessive amount of staff time and resources.
The use of this exception is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to consider whether the public interest in applying the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure. We recognise that the release of information would promote accountability and transparency in public services and also help address your particular concerns about this issue. However, the time it would take to provide the information you have requested would divert a disproportionate amount of our resources from its core functions and on balance we consider that the public interest currently favours the use of the exception.
Furthermore, we have received a large number of requests from different applicants asking for information in respect of different cameras. TfL has been refusing to release any information that would allow any of our ‘Digital Traffic Enforcement System’ cameras to be identified given the widespread instances of vandalism that some of these cameras have been subject to since the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). The rationale for this is as set out under a previous request for similar information, published on our website here:
Clearly, if the exceptions cited in the reply above were only ever applied to requests for information about the ANPR cameras used to enforce ULEZ, but not other cameras on the road network operated by TfL, then that would defeat the purpose of the exceptions applying – i.e. if that were the approach, then any time a request was refused then this would, in effect, identify our ANPR cameras. Therefore, the exceptions apply to all of our road camera infrastructure, so that the specific cameras used to enforce ULEZ cannot be distinguished from other cameras via FOI / EIR requests. For these reasons we would not be able to provide you with information if you were to reduce the scope of your request to a smaller number of speed cameras.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
