DECISION NOTICE-FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000-MS LOUISA HERBS-APPEAL AGAINST INITIAL DECISION

DATE OF DECISION: 26^th January 2009

Dear Ms Herbs,

I write further to the e-mail that you received from Mr Grafton on 6^th January 2009 and I am now in a position to determine your appeal.

BACKGROUND

In your e-mail dated 23^rd November 2008 you requested ten items of information in respect of CCTV cameras installed in public areas and which are controlled, monitored or operated by the Council.

In our response dated 9^th December 2008, we disclosed information in relation to most of the items, but declined to provide the information as set out below on the basis that it would be likely to prejudice the prevention and detection of crime:-

Item 1-“…the general capability of the cameras (i.e. resolution, frames per second, remote movement/focus control, infra-red capabilities, viable range)”

Item 5-“If there is a database or list of locations of installed cameras.”

Item 6-“If 5 exits, does it contain information on the capabilities of those cameras i.e. resolution, frames per second and infra-red capabilities) or the direction/target of those cameras.”

Item 7-“If 5 is true, for a copy of said database to be supplied”

YOUR APPEAL

In your e-mail dated 24th December 2008 you said that in view of the fact that item 7 had been refused, why was it not possible to provide the information requested in items 1 (capabilities), 5 and 6, as in your view this information could not be said to be prejudicial to the detection and prevention of crime.

MY DETERMINATION

The information requested and which is the subject of this appeal falls within the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“The Act”).

The question is whether disclosure of any of the information falls within any of the exemptions listed in the Act. Having carefully considered the matter, I do not believe that any of the exemptions would apply in respect of this particular information and I therefore uphold your appeal. The answers to the questions asked are as follows:-

Item 1-

The scheme consists of several different types of fully functional CCTV Cameras with camera resolutions ranging from 480TVL to 570TVL, capable of operating in lighting levels down to 0.1lux. The cameras are matched with auto iris zoom lenses ranging between 16:1 and 24: l zoom ratios.

All cameras have manual control of focus functions and many of the cameras also have auto focus functionality.

All CCTV Cameras can be controlled from the respective CCTV Control Room in order to provide 'live' monitoring and recording of all CCTV images and at least the following controls;- Pan, tilt, zoom, focus (all variable / proportional speed) as well as the ability to set and control pre-set positioning and tour functions. A small number of cameras also have infra red capability.

All cameras are capable of producing high quality images recorded at varying frame rates (typically 6.25 frames per second) and each cameras performance exceeds the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) performance guidelines. The following criteria is also met or exceeded;-

All cameras are configured to view and gain sufficient information at all points throughout their range to ensure that both the human and vehicle detail to HOSDB criteria is captured during all lighting conditions, day and night.

Each camera is configured to enable the evidence produces to be used in a court of law.

Each camera will provide evidential value of recorded images such that offenders will be caught, prosecuted and convicted.

Item 5-yes.

Item 6-no.

I trust that this determination is to your satisfaction.

D L Thomas

Head of Administration and Law