Date: 30 March 2010

Ref: RFI 5803807

Your ref: 25038

Enquiries: Peter Swingler

E-Mail: [email address]

Mr Sawyer

Email: [FOI #25038 email]

Dear Mr Sawyer

Application for Internal Review - Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Request for Information relating to CCTV camera details

I refer to our acknowledgement email dated 5 March 2010.

We have considered your appeal against the decision in relation to your request for access to information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We have also considered information from the Culture and Environment department regarding the Council's response to your request.

Our decision is that your appeal is not successful.

The reasons for our decision are set out below.

The Panel is mindful in this instance that there have been sequential questions and replies passing between you and the Parking Service, as a consequence of which that service appears genuinely to have been trying to address your questions in a systematic and helpful way.

The Panel took note of the specific information requested in your initial request for information dated 23 December 2009 and the initial response dated 20 January 2010.

You sent a further request dated 26 January 2010 to which a reply was sent on 28 January 2010.

You then requested further information in a communication dated 28 January 2010 to which a third response was provided dated 4 March 2010.

The Panel is satisfied thus far that the service was providing an appropriate response to your sequential points.

The Panel noted thereafter that your `application for an internal review' communication of 4 March 2010 suggested that the Parking Service had been obstructive and you set out the points that you wished the Panel to take into account.

The Panel notes that you have said that a completely redacted document has

been offered as information with no explanation as to why information has

been redacted or how it relates to his request. 

In considering this matter, the Panel notes that you had previously requested

copy certification relating to the camera. The previous replies from the Parking

Service directed you to the Department for Transport website link, which

confirms that all the cameras used within Camden are certified.  You have

also been directed to the certification requirements on that website,

which confirms the various minimum technical requirements of the cameras to

permit them to be certified. The Panel considers that to have been a correct

position for the Parking service to take.

The Panel notes that you then insisted on a document that specifically shows

that Camera 268 is covered by the above certification.  In attempting to

answer your request, the Parking Service decided that your request

could be dealt with by supplying you with a redacted copy of the Fixed Site

Camera Technical Specifications form for camera 268. It was confirmed to

that the document provided formed part of the Parking Service's application

to the Department for Transport for their camera approval certification and

that any information not relevant to your request was removed. The Panel

supports this position.

The second point you raised was that the operating resolution of the camera is not known, therefore how can this be confirmed as complying with the regulations? 

In that regard, the Panel recognises from the previous responses given to you

that the minimum resolution of this camera has been confirmed.  It has been explained that cameras must meet this minimum to enable certification to be granted by the DfT with Camera 268 therefore meeting these minimum requirements.  The Panel has been advised that the CCTV Department have confirmed that we do not hold these resolution details and therefore cannot provide this information. 

For the above reasons, the Panel considers that all appropriate and releasable information in response to your various amended requests for information has been supplied and where appropriate has been supplied in a redacted form.

If you are not satisfied with the manner in which your appeal was handled you should contact the Information Commissioner within two months of receiving this letter. The Information Commissioner will not consider complaints outside of this timeframe, except under exceptional circumstances. He can be contacted at the Information Commissioner's Office Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire. SK9 5AF.
Telephone: 01625 545 700
www.ico.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Peter Swingler

On behalf of the Internal Review Panel

FOI Act

LB of Camden

30/3/10

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