Dear Mr Jones

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

I refer to your recent request for information concerning VOSA traffic enforcement vehicles. I have reproduced your questions within the body of the letter, and placed VOSA's reply next to them in red.

I recently saw an MPV type vehicle which was dressed up to obviously resemble a police car, with high visibility yellow and blue squares along the sides, a light bar on the roof and the words "VOSA TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT" displayed on the rear of the vehicle. The vehicles are not designed to resemble a police car but to be a 'high viz' enforement vehicle. The colours used are yellow and black, not yellow and blue.

1) What is the purpose of these vehicles? To stop vehicles for inspection under section 67 of the Road Traffic Act.

2) Do these vehicles have sirens and blue flashing lights? No

3) Are they fitted with ANPR systems and speed enforcement equipment? Most do have ANPR equipment. VOSA do not carry out speed enforcement however we do enforce speed restriction legislation.

4) Do the operators of these vehicles have authority to stop vehicles and detain people, the same authority as Police officers? The officers do have authority to stop vehicles, but not to detain people. They are accredited under the Community Safety Scheme.

5) Might the public reasonably believe that VOSA personnel are actually impersonating Police officers? Is this not in actual fact a criminal offence? The vehicles have VOSA livery on them, and our officers wear a Hi-Viz jacket with VOSA on the back in large letters. They are not attempting to impersonate police officers as they clearly display the VOSA branding. All carry warrant cards clearly informing who they are, who they work for and what their powers are.

6) Do these vehicles target only commercial vehicles, such as lorries and buses, or are they authorised to interfere with private vehicles too, including cars, which are not being used for purposes of commerce? Although our main activities do not involve targeting cars or motorbikes we do have the legal power to do so and when appropriate do stop these vehicles.

7) Do these VOSA personnel have authority to seize vehicles or prevent them from being driven? If the examiner issues a fixed penalty notice for certain offences and the driver does not comply with the legislation we do have the power to immobilise the vehicle to prevent it being driver further. If the situation is not resolved we do have the power to remove it. Additionally, we do impound HGVs which are being operated illegally outside of the Operators Licencing scheme and in October will have corresponding powers for the PSV scheme.

8) Do they have authority to search vehicles? No

9) Do they have authority to test vehicles for safety, and is this done only with the consent of the owner of the vehicle? The purpose of us stopping vehicles is for road safety reasons. The owner can ask for a deferred test of their vehicle.

10) Do these officers have the authority (and training) to engage in high-speed pursuits of vehicles? No, in situations where this may be necessary our police colleagues assist.

11) Do they have the powers of detention and arrest, such as that of a genuine Police officer? No

12) Is it true that VOSA personnel only have "authority" over the public with the public's given consent, and that without such consent no authority actually exists? No, VOSA officers are warranted and as such, it is an offence not to comply with our instructions.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact us, quoting reference F0002154.

If you are unhappy with the response provided, you may ask for an internal review. To request an internal review, please write to:

VOSA Corporate Office,

Berkeley House,

Croydon Street,

Bristol,

BS5 0DA

or email [email address]

giving the reasons for your dissatisfaction. It will help us if you quote the reference number for your case.

If you do not agree with the outcome of the internal review, you may lodge an appeal with the Information Commissioner (www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk). The Information Commissioner is an independent official appointed by the Crown to oversee the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

The Information Commissioner can consider complaints about any aspect of the way in which requests for information have been handled. Please note: the Information Commissioner would be unlikely to consider your complaint if you have not first requested an internal review.

You can write to the Information Commissioner at:

The Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House,

Water Lane,

Wilmslow,

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

VOSA Information Access

From: Information Access

[email address]

Information Access Team Berkeley House

Croydon Street

Bristol

BS5 0DA

Tel: 0300 123 9000

Fax: 0117 954 2546

Our Ref: F0002154

Date: 23^rd September 2009

Michael Jones

[email address]

By E-mail