Speeding fixed Penalty notices

Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)

Thank you for your email received today in which you make a request for
information that Northumbria Police may hold.

We are in the process of dealing with your request and expect to revert to
you shortly. A response should be provided by 1 February 2010.

Yours sincerely

Helen Robbins

Information Compliance Unit

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We are in receipt or your request, ref no as above, however in order for us
to supply the information you have requested we seek clarity on part 3 of
your request, which asked :
3. The number of fixed penalty notices which were issued but were not
completed through the system.

Can you please be specific as to what you refer to as 'the system'?
Do you refer to the Fixed Penalty system or those successfully completed by
the police, ie a court hearing, which is outside the Fixed Penalty system.

Once clarity is received we can then consider your request.

Please also note that the clock is stopped on your request until we hear
from you further.

Regards

Jan Mcewan
Information Compliance Unit

From: Freedom of Information Mailbox on 04/01/2010 16:13

Sent by: Helen Robbins

To: [FOI #25289 email]
cc:
Subject: Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) Request 1854/10 Speeding
FPNs

Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)

Thank you for your email received today in which you make a request for
information that Northumbria Police may hold.

We are in the process of dealing with your request and expect to revert to
you shortly. A response should be provided by 1 February 2010.

Yours sincerely

Helen Robbins

Information Compliance Unit

NORTHUMBRIA POLICE PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

The information contained in this message and any attachment(s) is confidential and intended only for the attention of the named organisation or individual to whom it is addressed. The message may contain information that is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. No mistake in transmission is intended to waive or compromise any such privilege. This message has been sent over public networks and the sender cannot be held responsible for its integrity.

If you are not the intended recipient be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken in reliance of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited, and is contrary to the provisions of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act, 1988 and of the Data Protection Act, 1998.

Any views expressed are those of the sender and, unless specifically stated, do not necessarily represent the view of Northumbria Police.

We cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage sustained as a result of software viruses. It is your responsibility to carry out such virus checking as is necessary.

If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by e-mail at once and delete the message immediately.

For more information about Northumbria Police please visit our website - http://www.northumbria.police.uk

Dear Mr Hedley
Thank you for your email received today in which provide clarification of
your request.

As advised earlier, the clock has been stopped on your request until
clarification has been received. Therefore, please note that your revised
response due date is 24 February 2010.

Yours sincerely

Helen Robbins

Information Compliance Unit

[NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED]

From: George Hedley <[FOI #25289 email]> on
02/02/2010 20:18

To: [Northumbria Police request email]
cc:
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Speeding fixed
Penalty notices

Dear Northumbria Police,

I can clarify point 3
3. The number of fixed penalty notices which were issued but were
not completed through the system.

By the 'System' I refer to the Fixed Penalty system

Yours faithfully,

George Hedley

show quoted sections

Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')

Thank you for your email dated 2 February 2010 in which you clarify your
request for access to certain information which may be held by Northumbria
Police.

As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of
access to information held by a Public Authority (including the Police),
subject to certain limitations and exemptions.

You asked:

1. The number of speeding related fixed Penalty Notices sent out by
Northumbria Police in the past three years (Inclusive of 2009 to date if
possible).

2. The number of fixed penalty notices that were successfully
concluded without having to issue a ***Notice of Intended Prosecution
Request for Information to Identify Driver of Vehicle***

3. The number of fixed penalty notices which were issued but were
not completed through the system. By the System I refer to the Fixed
Penalty system.

4. Would it also be possible to provide information with regards to
the procedure and protocols for the sending and recording of, all fixed
penalty notifications, (Please include references to any written
procedures, ISO systems, Methods for stamping the mail, including posting
and any courier services used).

In response:

We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request and I
provide a response for your attention.

1. There were a total of 195,983 offences detected via camera for
speeding in the period requested. 185,934 initial NIPs were sent out -
the difference is due to foreign registered vehicles and police vehicles
with blues illuminated.

2. 7,562 endorsable tickets have been issued for speeding, this is
where the ticket is handed to the driver of the speeding vehicle,
therefore no NIP is issued.
With regards to the term of 'successfully concluded':
6,160 were paid.
567 were registered as fines with the local courts (submitted
license to have points added but not paid the penalty).
A total of 25 individuals attended a speed awareness workshop.
75 tickets were returned for court action (e.g. already had 9
points or holder of a foreign license)
623 tickets were returned to the officer for appropriate action
(Have neither paid fine or submitted license for points to be added).
As of 2nd February 2009 some offences are still outstanding i.e.
still have time to pay.

3. We have interpreted this to mean all those that had not paid or
completed a workshop. Our records show that 47,869 notices were not
completed through the fixed penalty system. This includes all those cases
that have gone through the courts and includes camera activations and
tickets at the roadside.

4. Northumbria Police have 4 types of fixed penalties - Notice of
Intended Prosecutions (NIPs), Notice to Owners, Endorsable Tickets and
Public Notices of Disorder Tickets (PNDs) that require the posting and
receiving of documents.

PND Tickets
We do not send out documents re these tickets as they are handed
direct to the offender,and a copy is retained by the officer. Once the
ticket is received into the Fixed Penalty unit it is manually input into
the Vehicle Procedures and Fixed Penalty Office (VPFPO) system.

Endorsable Tickets
As above.

Notice to Owners
Non endorsable tickets, some of these are handed direct to the
drivers of vehicles, the others are placed onto the windscreen of the
vehicle.
For those tickets that are handed to the driver direct, the same
procedure applies as Endorsable Tickets.

For those tickets placed on the windscreen, once entered onto the
VPFPO system, these are filed for 28 days awaiting payment, if payment is
not received after 28 days then a Notice to Owner is automatically
generated by the system. These notices are checked then electronically
enveloped, placed in a secure container and taken to the post room, where
upon they are franked 2nd class post and placed into a GPO sack for
collection by the GPO on a daily bases.

Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIPs)
All NIPs must be served upon the registered keeper of a motor
vehicle within 14 days of the offence taking place.
The notices are automatically generated and printed by the VPFPO
system on a daily bases from films/dvds read and input into VPFPO the
previous day.

Each form generated will have the date on the top of the form to
indicate when it was printed and posted, all notices are posted the same
day as printing.

Once each one is checked and verified they are taken direct to our
post room where upon they are electronically enveloped and placed, in
batches of 50, into a secure box ready for delivery to the main post room.
If further information is recorded relating to a ticket, ie telephone
conversation or correspondence sent, a date is automatically created on
the VPFPO system to state when this event took place.

All mail that is received into the department is opened within a
secure postal room, each and every document received is manually stamped
with a date stamp to confirm the date of receipt. NIPs and any mail deemed
as urgent is sent first class. There is no policy in place, regarding the
sending of NIPs. Northumbria Police comply with a statutory requirement
of sending NIPs out within 14 days.

The information we have supplied to you is likely to contain intellectual
property rights of Northumbria Police. Your use of the information must
be strictly in accordance with the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988
(as amended) or such other applicable legislation. In particular, you
must not re-use this information for any commercial purpose.

How to complain

If you are unhappy with our decision or do not consider that we have
handled your request properly and we are unable to resolve this issue
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If you are still unhappy after we have investigated your complaint and
reported to you the outcome, you may complain directly to the Information
Commissioner***s Office and request that they investigate to ascertain
whether we have dealt with your request in accordance with the Act.

Yours sincerely

Michael Cleugh
Data Protection and Disclosure Advisor
Direct Dial: 01661 869389
[NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED]

NORTHUMBRIA POLICE PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

The information contained in this message and any attachment(s) is
confidential and intended only for the attention of the named organisation
or individual to whom it is addressed. The message may contain
information that is covered by legal, professional or other privilege. No
mistake in transmission is intended to waive or compromise any such
privilege. This message has been sent over public networks and the sender
cannot be held responsible for its integrity.

If you are not the intended recipient be aware that any disclosure,
copying, distribution or action taken in reliance of the information
contained herein is strictly prohibited, and is contrary to the provisions
of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act, 1988 and of the Data Protection
Act, 1998.

Any views expressed are those of the sender and, unless specifically
stated, do not necessarily represent the view of Northumbria Police.

We cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage sustained as a
result of software viruses. It is your responsibility to carry out such
virus checking as is necessary.

If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by
e-mail at once and delete the message immediately.

For more information about Northumbria Police please visit our website -
[1]http://www.northumbria.police.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.northumbria.police.uk/