Police Camera's

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Dear Mr Ovens,

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Acknowledgment

Thank you for your request for information received on 25th February,
2010, and is being dealt with this in accordance with the Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Your request has been given the unique
Reference Number : 1456 and this should be quoted on all correspondence.

Under the terms of the Act, we have a statutory obligation to respond
within 20 working days from the after your request was received. A
response to your request for information will be sent to you promptly; and
in any event not later than 25th March, 2010. Please allow for postal
time, if sent by mail.

Your request may result in us not supplying the information you have
requested, as the Act imposes certain conditions and exemptions on the
information we may supply. It is also possible that the information you
request is controlled by different legislation.

If you require any clarification or advice, please do not hesitate to
contact me on 01786 456000 or Email: [1][email address]
. However, if you are not satisfied with the way in which your request has
been handled, you are entitled, in the first instance, to request a Review
of the decisions made. Should you wish to request a Review after your
initial Response from us, please write to Chief Inspector A McLeod, Head
of Department, Professional Standards Department, Central Scotland Police,
Police Headquarters, Randolphfield, Stirling FK8 2HD within 40 working
days of receiving this correspondence.

If, after receiving a response to the Review, you remain dissatisfied, you
have six months within which you may Appeal to the Scottish Information
Commissioner who can be contacted at Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St
Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS. Phone: 01334 464610 Fax: 01334 464611 or Email
[2][email address] .

For further information on Freedom of Information you can visit the
Scottish Information Commissioners website at
[3]www.itspublicknowledge.info .

Yours sincerely

Kind regards
Ilene

Freedom of Information Officer

Central Scotland Police
Police Headquarters

Tel: 01786 456000
Fax: 01786 456388
Email: [4][Central Scotland Police request email]

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Dear Mr Ovens,

Thank you for your email. Please accept my apologies the delay is due
to workload in the department providing the information. It is hoped I
should be able to respond by the end of today.

Kind regards
Ilene

Freedom of Information Officer

Central Scotland Police
Police Headquarters

Tel: 01786 456000 Ext : 2774
Fax: 01786 456388
Email: [Central Scotland Police request email]

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Dear Mr Ovens,

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Thank you for your request for information received on 25th February,
2010, and please accept my apologies for the delay in responding. I have
dealt with this in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland)
Act 2002 and respond to your request as follows :

Your Request(s) :

1. How accurate are Police cameras used in policing speeding motorists,
im talking stationary or hand held cameras.
2. Does the camera have to be %100 accurate before a conviction is made.
3. How often are the cameras checked and are they kept up to Home office
standards.
4. If the cameras don't have to be %100 accurate, what is the percentage
that passes them so drivers can be convicted?

Response(s) :

Question 1, 2 and 4 : In regard to your enquiry concerning the accuracy
required for the speed detection equipment used by the Central Scotland
Safety Camera Partnership I would advise you that this equipment is
subject of Home Office type approval. Should you wish to examine that
process, to establish their standards of accuracy, I would refer you to
the Home Office who can be contacted at [1]www.homeoffice.gov.uk or at
the Home Office, 2 Marsham Street London SW1P. Part 1, Section 17, 1 (b)
of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 requires Central
Scotland Police to advise you that we do not hold the information you have
requested.

Further information can be located at :
[2]http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operatio...
and
[3]http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publicat...

Question 3 : The speed detection equipment used by the Central Scotland
Safety Camera Partnership is subject of annual Certificate of Calibration
which ensures compliance with the standards set by the Home Office. Daily
checks of the equipment are undertaken

You should be aware that Central Scotland Police hold the Copyright for
the material provided and it may not be reproduced in any format or media
without acquiring specific permission. This will also be subject to the
material not being used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context.
The source of the material must then be acknowledged as Central Scotland
Police, and the title of the document must be included when being
reproduced as part of another publication or service.

Police forces in the United Kingdom are routinely required to provide
crime statistics to government bodies and the recording criteria is set
nationally. However, the systems used for recording these figures are not
generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the crime data.
It should be noted that for these reasons this force's response to your
questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other
response you may receive.

If you require any clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me on
01786 456000 or Email: [4][email address] . However, if
you are not satisfied with the way in which your request has been handled,
you are entitled, in the first instance, to request a Review of the
decisions made. Should you wish to request a Review, please write to Chief
Inspector A McLeod, Head of Department, Professional Standards Department,
Central Scotland Police, Police Headquarters, Randolphfield, Stirling FK8
2HD within 40 working days of receiving this correspondence.

If, after receiving a response, you remain dissatisfied, you have six
months within which you may Appeal to the Scottish Information
Commissioner who can be contacted at Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St
Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS. Phone: 01334 464610 Fax: 01334 464611 or Email
[5][email address] .

Yours sincerely

Kind regards
Ilene

Freedom of Information Officer
Central Scotland Police
Police Headquarters
Randolphfield
Stirling FK8 2HD

Tel: 01786 456000
Fax: 01786 456388
Email: [6][Central Scotland Police request email]

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Dear Mr Ovens,

In relation to your further query I can advise that the accuracy of the
device is established under the terms of the Home Office type approval
process. The operator is not involved in matters surrounding the
percentage of accuracy of the device during the period of operation.

As provided in my earlier response the full explanation is available at :
[1]http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operatio...

Should you have difficulty in access :

This is from the Home Office Type Approval Information :

Effective road policing relies on the use of sophisticated traffic law
enforcement devices. The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 requires that
these devices are approved by the Secretary of State, so that evidence
from them can be used in court proceedings. Type approved speedmeter
cameras are devices used to detect vehicles breaking the designated speed
limit for an area by means of radar, light beam or distance over time
speed detection devices.

Before certain new technologies can be used officially by the police in
enforcement of traffic law, they have to be `type approved' by the Home
Office. Devices are tested in various conditions over and above what is
required in normal day-to-day operations. This ensures that the equipment
is reliable, robust and of a sufficiently high standard to be used to
produce evidence.
The type approval process has two stages: one led by the Association of
Chief Police Officers (ACPO) roads policing enforcement technology
committee and the second by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch
(HOSDB).

The ACPO committee review the technical description and health and safety
information of any new device presented by a company, and if it is thought
to have merit, the committee allocates three police forces to carry out
tests in accordance with guidance. The HOSDB decides whether the device
should have further technical tests, and if these are satisfactorily
completed it recommends type approval to the Home Office Public Order
Unit.

Devices are continually self-calibrating with their own fault report
system. The HOSDB is satisfied that the devices should be calibrated in
factory when constructed, and then again annually. The factory check and
annual check ensure that the device's own internal and continuous
calibrating system is operating correctly. A visible sticker is usually
placed on a device showing the date of the last check.

Kind regards
Ilene

Freedom of Information Officer

Central Scotland Police
Police Headquarters

Tel: 01786 456000 Ext : 2774
Fax: 01786 456388
Email: [Central Scotland Police request email]

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Dear Mr Ovens,

In response to your further queries.

There is info on them having their own fault system, but if someone is
fined how would the accused know the system was faulty? Response : Any
such evidence would be produced in Court and therefore they would hold the
information you have requested, or the accused legal representative.

Surely there has to be information somewhere, that says how accurate these
camera's have to be before the Police can convict you? Response : The
police do not convict a person it is a Court function, therefore again I
suggest you contact them for this type of information.

Its my understanding in Law that someone has to be convicted 100% by the
evidence given, is this correct? Response : See above.

Central Scotland Police have directed you to the Home Office, Secretary of
State who you should contact if you require further information on the
accuracy of these devices or indeed the manufaturer(s).

Kind regards
Ilene

Freedom of Information Officer

Central Scotland Police
Police Headquarters

Tel: 01786 456000 Ext : 2774
Fax: 01786 456388
Email: [Central Scotland Police request email]

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Dear Mr Ovens,

You may find again reading the following document will assist you :

[1]http://www.acpos.co.uk/Documents/Policie...

In particular Section 1 : extract for your information

'1. Home Office Type Approval
1.1 What is Home Office Type Approval?
The purpose is to ensure devices are accurate, reliable and robust and
provide accurate evidence leading to safe convictions. Home Office Type
Approval is granted for enforcement devices that have been manufactured or
supplied to the strict criteria laid down in handbooks produced by Home
Office
Police Scientific Development Branch (PSDB) and are intended for police
use.
If the device meets the criteria and is successful in Type Approval
testing the
supplier and the Home Office enter into a Type Approval agreement. This
places a strict contractual obligation on the supplier to ensure all
devices
supplied for road policing enforcement in England, Northern Ireland,
Scotland
and Wales comply exactly with the devices tested.
1.2 How is the Type Approval made known?
The Home Office will ensure a copy of all Type Approval Orders is sent to
every police force in order to ensure a copy can be produced at court when
required. Any person or organisation can obtain a copy of a statutory
instrument from The Stationery Office..'

Kind regards
Ilene

Freedom of Information Officer

Central Scotland Police
Police Headquarters

Tel: 01786 456000 Ext : 2774
Fax: 01786 456388
Email: [Central Scotland Police request email]

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Dear Mr Ovens,

In response to your email and as stated I suggest you contact the Home
Office to provide the answer to your question.

Kind regards
Ilene

Freedom of Information Officer

Central Scotland Police
Police Headquarters

Tel: 01786 456000 Ext : 2774
Fax: 01786 456388
Email: [Central Scotland Police request email]

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Dear Mr Ovens,

While researching another FOI Request I located the following document

http://scienceandresearch.homeoffice.gov...

Extract :
7.6 Measuring accuracy
7.6.1 General
The speedmeter shall be assessed by comparing its readings with a vehicle fitted with a speed measuring system having an accuracy of at least ±1 mph. Measurements at different speeds up to the maximum stated by the manufacturer shall be made.
Simulated speeds may be used for speeds above 120 mph. The speedmeter shall give a positive error no larger than 2 mph (or 3% above 66 mph) and a negative error of no greater than 5 mph or 10% above 50 mph (see 8.2). For combined red light and speed cameras, the requirements in the latest edition of the Traffic Light Camera Handbook shall apply when a red signal is displayed and being enforced. At other times whenever the speed limit is being enforced, the requirements of this handbook apply.
7.6.2 Radar
In the laboratory, the speedmeter shall measure a simulated speed to within ±1 mph in 10 mph increments from 20 mph to the maximum measuring speed stated by the manufacturer.

Kind regards
Ilene

Freedom of Information Officer

Central Scotland Police
Police Headquarters

Tel: 01786 456000 Ext : 2774
Fax: 01786 456388
Email: [Central Scotland Police request email]

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