Re: Freedom of Information request

Wendy,

     Thanks for the response, would you be able to pass some of this on
     to the relevant contacts for the areas/timeperiods they have
     details for.

     I am looking for the last 5 calendar years, though if you report by
     fiscal year that is easier In general, information from 1 Jan 2004
     onwards to now would suffice.

     Thanks for confirming what information you are able to provide, by
     using the 'front end reporting' features of the system you use to
     record PCN details.

     I would just like to clarify - is it possible that the IT/database
     administrator can produce the selected field extract from the
     database backend (In my experience, databases often sit on MySQL/MS
     SQL/Oracle backends - and the IT/database Administrator of the
     system can often extract out information that the systems
     'reporting' options don't allow).

     If the size of the data extract is too large for it to be
     compressed (zipped) and emailed, then I am happy to provide you
     with FTP details (the IT contact could transfer the files), or to
     receive the data on a CD/DVD. I understand that to produce some
     reports in a 'paper' format is not the best for either of us.

     Sizewise, the physical number of records will be no issue for me; I
     cannot narrow down the request anymore than it already is. (That
     being a limited number of fields, by PCN issued, for the 5 year
     period).

     Obviously if some of the information is not held in the database
     (perhaps regarding the payment status etc,) then I would not want
     to trouble you by having someone to review the actual case records
     (as I understand this would be above and beyond the £450/2.5 day
     limit)

Thanks, Neil

-----Original Message-----

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Our Ref: FOI 371-09

E-mail: [email address] for all correspondence relating to FOI
requests

     I write to acknowledge receipt of your request for information
     under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, received at
     this office on 4 August 2009, having been transferred by Angus
     Council. For the avoidance of doubt, a copy of your request is
     detailed below:

     Q1 I would like to request the raw data set of parking tickets
     issued in the name of the council within the last five year period
     broken down by:

(a) date

(b) time

(d) narrative of infraction

(e) current status of case

(f) next status of case

(g) transaction details (ie date, time and method of payments
made)

(h) officer ID

Ideally I would like the location unit to be 'street'

     Q2 I would also like to request any information to 'reward'/bonus
     schemes/contracts in place for your parking enforcement officers.
     This is envisaged to cover the details of any systems, including
     (where bonuses are paid) the amount per officer per year, for the
     last five years.

Q3 I would also ask that you provide some detail about the
recording processes of this parking information, eg:

(a) What software is used?

(b) What data fields are recorded?

     I would first of all advise you that Tayside Police covers the area
     of 3 local authorities, namely Angus Council, Dundee City Council,
     and Perth and Kinross Council. Parking was decriminalised in Perth
     from 1 October 2002, and in Dundee from 1 April 2004, and is now
     the responsibility of the local councils covering these areas.
     Therefore you would need to pass your request to Parkwise Dundee
     and to Perth and Kinross Parking Services, at the respective local
     Councils. Accordingly, Tayside Police holds information relating to
     parking tickets issued in the Angus area only.

     Furthermore, initial enquiries with our Central Ticket Office
     regarding the volume of parking offences in the Angus area during
     the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2009 have highlighted that
     there are in the region of 8,000 such offences during this period.
     Given the large amount of data requested, is there any way you can
     refine your request to a more manageable level?

     Also, whilst Tayside Police deals with the issuing of parking
     tickets in the Angus area, the specific information you have
     requested in relation to "transactions" may not be fully
     retrievable, as the payments of such tickets is made at the local
     Courts. It may be the case that I can only provide you with
     information stating whether or not a ticket has been paid, is still
     live, or has been cancelled. Can you please confirm if this would
     suffice? Also, from 9 February 2009, the joint data system
     previously in use is no longer in operation, and Tayside Police
     does not hold any details regarding transactions made after this
     date.

     I also note in your request you are seeking information for the
     "last 5 years". In order to process your request efficiently and
     accurately, can you please advise me whether you are seeking the
     above information for the last 5 calendar years, or the last 5
     financial years?

     Under the terms of the Act, as clarification is being sought, your
     request will not be processed until your reply, including
     clarification, is received. Afterwards, we are required to respond
     to your clarified request within 20 working days following the
     receipt of your reply.

     Please note, however, that there may be a fee payable for the
     retrieval, collation and provision of the information requested.
     You will be advised of this should a payment be required and no
     information will be supplied prior to receipt of the fee.

If you require any further information or assistance, please do not
hesitate to contact myself on 01382 596169.

Wendy Snedden

Freedom of Information Officer

Force Information & Intelligence Division

Tayside Police

Tel: 01382 596169

Fax: 01382 596048

Email: [email address] <mailto:[email address]>

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