Advanced stop lines - training given to Met police

Dear Mr. Whyte,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010070005634
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 29/07/2010. I note you seek
access to the following information:

* "This query relates to Advanced Stop Lines (i.e. cycle boxes at
traffic lights, as covered by rule 178 of the Highway Code and the
offence under s.36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 by virtue of the
Traffic Signs Regulations and General directions 2002, regs. 10, 36(1)
& 43(2)) and the training that Met police officers receive in
recognising and recording offences relating to them.

1. In the response given on 25 June 2010 to FOI request 2010050004925,
you indicated that 'cases where an advanced stop line has been
contravened would be recorded as "contravening automatic traffic
signal"'.

* Does this mean that the offence code given to cases where an advanced
stop line has been contravened is the same as the offence code where
there has been any contravention of automatic traffic signals?
* What is the numerical offence code given to cases where an advanced
stop line has been contravened?
* What specific training do Met police officers receive (either when
they first join the force or at any time thereafter) that that the
offence code referred to in question 2 above applies to cases where an
advanced stop line has been contravened?
* If the answer is that they receive no training, how do Met police
officers have the requisite knowledge to issue tickets for
contravention of advance stop lines? "

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
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the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act,
subject to the information not being exempt or containing a reference
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Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
write or contact Katie London on telephone number 02071613907 quoting
the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Katie London
Policy and Support Officer
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Phone: 01625 545 700

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Dear Mr Whyte

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010070005634

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 29/07/2010. I note you seek
access to the following information:

This query relates to Advanced Stop Lines (i.e. cycle boxes at traffic
lights, as covered by rule 178 of the Highway Code and the offence under
s.36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 by virtue of the Traffic Signs
Regulations and General directions 2002, regs. 10, 36(1) & 43(2)) and the
training that Met police officers receive in recognising and recording
offences relating to them.

1. In the response given on 25 June 2010 to FOI request 2010050004925, you
indicated that 'cases where an advanced stop line has been contravened
would be recorded as "contravening automatic traffic signal"'. Does this
mean that the offence code given to cases where an advanced stop line has
been contravened is the same as the offence code where there has been any
contravention of automatic traffic signals?

2. What is the numerical offence code given to cases where an advanced
stop line has been contravened?

3. What specific training do Met police officers receive (either when they
first join the force or at any time thereafter) that that the offence code
referred to in question 2 above applies to cases where an advanced stop
line has been contravened? 4. If the answer is that they receive no
training, how do Met police officers have the requisite knowledge to issue
tickets for contravention of advance stop lines?

EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

This request has been dealt with as a coordinated response as the
information requested is held by more than one MPS unit.

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
with the following units:

* Human Resources (HR)
* Traffic Criminal Justice Unit (TCJU)

RESULT OF SEARCHES

The searches located records relevant to your request.

DECISION

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Question One - Provided by Marie Beadle from Traffic Criminal Justice Unit
In the response given on 25 June 2010 to FOI request 2010050004925, you
indicated that 'cases where an advanced stop line has been contravened
would be recorded as "contravening automatic traffic signal"'. Does this
mean that the offence code given to cases where an advanced stop line has
been contravened is the same as the offence code where there has been any
contravention of automatic traffic signals?

In response to question one, there is no separate offence code for
***Contravening advanced stop lines***. Therefore, cases where an
advanced stop line has been contravened would be recorded as
***Contravening automatic traffic signal.*** In law it is the same offence
and the same offence code that would be used.

Question Two - Provided by Marie Beadle from Traffic Criminal Justice
Unit
What is the numerical offence code given to cases where an advanced stop
line has been contravened?

The fixed penalty notice code for ***Contravening automatic traffic
signal*** is 160

Question Three - Provided by Jen Powell from Human Resources
What specific training do Met police officers receive (either when they
first join the force or at any time thereafter) that that the offence code
referred to in question 2 above applies to cases where an advanced stop
line has been contravened? 4. If the answer is that they receive no
training, how do Met police officers have the requisite knowledge to issue
tickets for contravention of advance stop lines?

All Police officers in initial training spend one whole day (8 periods) of
the foundation course learning how to complete and issue a Fixed Penalty
Notice for both endorsable and non-endorsable offences. They also complete
an assessed endorsable Fixed Penalty Notice. This is based on either
contravening and red traffic light or contravening a stop sign. Both of
these offences have points to prove of failing to stop at a stop line. The
students also each take part in practical exercises in relation to the
above subjects. There is no teaching specifically of failing to stop at a
secondary stop line (as there is no such offence) but in order to
contravene a secondary stop line, then they must have contravened the
first one which is an offence in itself. The secondary line is normally
only there for cyclists at a traffic light junction. Lesson note 137 is
the input the students receive on Fixed Penalty Notices and lesson note
132 is the input the students receive on Traffic Signs and Signals. All
students are also directed to have a look at form 4740 and 4741 which are
the list of all codes in relation to fixed penalty notices which are
accessible via the intranet of which there are far too many to teach any
officer on each individual offence, so the most common are covered which
are as above.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Julia Wharton on telephone number 0207 161 3657 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Julia Wharton
FOI Coordinator & Review Officer
In complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information, the
Metropolitan Police Service will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the
enclosed information will continue to be protected by law. Applications
for the copyright owner's written permission to reproduce any part of the
attached information should be addressed to MPS Directorate of Legal
Services, 1st Floor (Victoria Block), New Scotland Yard, Victoria, London,
SW1H 0BG.
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again ***

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is to
telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your decision
letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues and
assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

show quoted sections