Gatso Calibration and Training

The request was successful.

Dear Greater Manchester Police,
I would like to request a FOI disclosure which is basically to understand the annual money payments to Serco and Gatso for the calibration and maintenance of cameras, staff training, and how the speed is calculated as part of the secondary check.
Q1. How many fixed post Gatso (FPG) and Gatso Red Light(GRL) cameras were in use, on an annual basis, by your partnership in the past three financial years?
Q2.For these cameras, for the past three financial years, what were the total cost amounts paid(TCAP) for the annual calibration of these cameras, identifying the TCAP to intermediate agents such as Serco and the company Gatsometer B.V, and the additional amounts of V.A.T added ?
Q3.Please confirm if the partnership have ownership of these cameras, paid in full, or any other arrangement.
Q4.Please confirm if the calibration contracts (CC) have been agreed for a fixed term with break penalty clauses or negotiated annually, if the CC are inclusive of a greater contract regarding maintenance, and who signed the contracts on behalf of the partnership.
Q5.After the cameras have been returned following calibration please confirm if, apart from the calibration certificate, Gatsometer B.V provide a report on any faults detected and items replaced and, if so, please identify the items, including batteries, that have required replacement.
Q6 After calibration, please confirm if the cameras are returned with a shutter speed of two photographs at intervals of 0.5 seconds, and if your Camera Enforcement Officers make any adjustments to the shutter speed or flash setting prior to reinstallation and, if so, what are the setting adjustments?.
Q7.Regarding the secondary check viewing, please advise how the viewing staff are trained for their task, who does the training, are certificates of completion provided, and are the staff given post training assessments or hard copy reference documentation. Is the work of the viewing staff audited or reviewed at intervals?
Q8.For FPG please confirm the distance between the calibration lines on the road which are part of the secondary check, so that one can calculate the speed if five lines are passed.

Yours faithfully,

dennis fallon

Greater Manchester Police

Dear Sir,

I write in connection with your request for information dated 25/08/11,
which was received by Greater Manchester Police on 26/08/11. I note you
require access to the following information:

I would like to request a FOI disclosure which is basically to
understand the annual money payments to Serco and Gatso for the
calibration and maintenance of cameras, staff training, and how the
speed is calculated as part of the secondary check.
Q1. How many fixed post Gatso (FPG) and Gatso Red Light(GRL)
cameras were in use, on an annual basis, by your partnership in the
past three financial years?
Q2.For these cameras, for the past three financial years, what were
the total cost amounts paid(TCAP) for the annual calibration of
these cameras, identifying the TCAP to intermediate agents such as
Serco and the company Gatsometer B.V, and the additional amounts of
V.A.T added ?
Q3.Please confirm if the partnership have ownership of these
cameras, paid in full, or any other arrangement.
Q4.Please confirm if the calibration contracts (CC) have been
agreed for a fixed term with break penalty clauses or negotiated
annually, if the CC are inclusive of a greater contract regarding
maintenance, and who signed the contracts on behalf of the
partnership.
Q5.After the cameras have been returned following calibration
please confirm if, apart from the calibration certificate,
Gatsometer B.V provide a report on any faults detected and items
replaced and, if so, please identify the items, including
batteries, that have required replacement.
Q6 After calibration, please confirm if the cameras are returned
with a shutter speed of two photographs at intervals of 0.5
seconds, and if your Camera Enforcement Officers make any
adjustments to the shutter speed or flash setting prior to
reinstallation and, if so, what are the setting adjustments?.
Q7.Regarding the secondary check viewing, please advise how the
viewing staff are trained for their task, who does the training,
are certificates of completion provided, and are the staff given
post training assessments or hard copy reference documentation. Is
the work of the viewing staff audited or reviewed at intervals?
Q8.For FPG please confirm the distance between the calibration
lines on the road which are part of the secondary check, so that
one can calculate the speed if five lines are passed.

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act). You will receive a response within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party.
In some circumstances Greater Manchester Police may be unable to achieve
this deadline. If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.
There may be a fee payable for the retrieval, collation and provision of
the information you request. If this is the case you will be informed and
the 20 working day timescale will be suspended until we receive payment
from you. If you choose not to make payment then your request will remain
unanswered.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.
Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact The Information Access Team, on telephone number 0161 856 2529

Kind regards

Information Access Team

From: dennis fallon <[FOI #84050 email]>
To: FOI requests at Greater Manchester Police
<[Greater Manchester Police request email]>
Date: 25/08/2011 16:40
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Gatso Calibration and Training

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Greater Manchester Police,
I would like to request a FOI disclosure which is basically to
understand the annual money payments to Serco and Gatso for the
calibration and maintenance of cameras, staff training, and how the
speed is calculated as part of the secondary check.
Q1. How many fixed post Gatso (FPG) and Gatso Red Light(GRL)
cameras were in use, on an annual basis, by your partnership in the
past three financial years?
Q2.For these cameras, for the past three financial years, what were
the total cost amounts paid(TCAP) for the annual calibration of
these cameras, identifying the TCAP to intermediate agents such as
Serco and the company Gatsometer B.V, and the additional amounts of
V.A.T added ?
Q3.Please confirm if the partnership have ownership of these
cameras, paid in full, or any other arrangement.
Q4.Please confirm if the calibration contracts (CC) have been
agreed for a fixed term with break penalty clauses or negotiated
annually, if the CC are inclusive of a greater contract regarding
maintenance, and who signed the contracts on behalf of the
partnership.
Q5.After the cameras have been returned following calibration
please confirm if, apart from the calibration certificate,
Gatsometer B.V provide a report on any faults detected and items
replaced and, if so, please identify the items, including
batteries, that have required replacement.
Q6 After calibration, please confirm if the cameras are returned
with a shutter speed of two photographs at intervals of 0.5
seconds, and if your Camera Enforcement Officers make any
adjustments to the shutter speed or flash setting prior to
reinstallation and, if so, what are the setting adjustments?.
Q7.Regarding the secondary check viewing, please advise how the
viewing staff are trained for their task, who does the training,
are certificates of completion provided, and are the staff given
post training assessments or hard copy reference documentation. Is
the work of the viewing staff audited or reviewed at intervals?
Q8.For FPG please confirm the distance between the calibration
lines on the road which are part of the secondary check, so that
one can calculate the speed if five lines are passed.

Yours faithfully,

dennis fallon

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Dear FOI,
The purpose behind Q2 of my recent FOI is to calculate the unit cost of calibrating one Gatso Speed and one Gatso Red light camera.
If it is troublesome for you to add up the individual payments to Serco for calibration it will be acceptable to simply know the agreed calibration payment for each camera type over the three year period to assess the trend.

Yours faithfully,

dennis fallon

Greater Manchester Police

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Fallon

Please find attached the response to your recent request made under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Many thanks
Amanda Ratcliffe
Information Access Officer
Information Access Team
Information Services Branch
Greater Manchester Police
Internal - 62531
External - 0161-856-2531
email - [email address]

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This e mail carries a disclaimer, a copy of which may be read at:

   
http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/...

Dear Ms Ratcliffe,
Thank you for your helpful reply in which you advise that Greater Manchester Police operates 32 Gatso speed enforcement sites and 19 Gatso red light enforcement sites.

Unfortunately the answer to Q2 causes me confusion as I was hoping to calculate the three year price trend but the amounts are pooled and seem eratic.

I would appreciate asking a clarification question, which you may treat as a new FOI if you wish.

CLARIFICATION POINT ONE.
Please advise of the individual agreed costs for calibration of one Gatso speed cameras and one Gatso red light camera for each of the last three financial years, indicating amounts of VAT added.
Please advise why the total costs of calibration fluctuate over the period from £25,259, to £20,204, then to £28,170 when the number of annual calibrations should be consistant.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours faithfully,

dennis fallon

Greater Manchester Police

Dear Mr Fallon

I write in connection with your request for information dated 26th
September 2011, which was received by Greater Manchester Police on 26th
September 2011.  I note you require access to the following information:

As per email

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act). You will receive a response within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party.
In some circumstances Greater Manchester Police may be unable to achieve
this deadline.  If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.
There may be a fee payable for the retrieval, collation and provision of
the information you request.  If this is the case you will be informed and
the 20 working day timescale will be suspended until we receive payment
from you. If you choose not to make payment then your request will remain
unanswered.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.
Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact The Information Access Team, on telephone number 0161 856 2529

Kind regards

Information Access Team

show quoted sections

Greater Manchester Police

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Fallon

Please find attached a response to your recent request made under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Many thanks

Amanda Ratcliffe
Information Access Officer
Information Access Team
Information Services Branch
Greater Manchester Police
Internal - 62531
External - 0161-856-2531
email - [email address]

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
This e mail carries a disclaimer, a copy of which may be read at:

   
http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/...

Dear Ms Ratcliffe,

Thank you for your helpful reply, but the response regarding point two requires further clarification.

The response regarding point one is clear, namely that from 2008 to 2010 the cost of calibrating a Gatso Speed Camera increased by 18% from £553 to £658, and the Gatso Red Light calibration increased by 22% from £430 to £527.
This is helpful as it indicates the escalating costs are much greater than inflation.

Regarding point two, why the total calibration costs in 2009 were circa £8,000 less than calculated estimates, the response was "The costs of calibration were lower in 2009/2010 as obsolete cameras were replaced and did not require calibration"

I do not understand the expression `obsolete cameras were replaced`, as my query relates to the 32 Gatso speed cameras and 19 Gatso Red Light cameras as previously advised.

A Gatso camera can never be considered `obsolete`as they must always comply with the original unchanged Type Approval, unless they were replaced by a newer version of Gatso complying with a different specification of components and which were delivered already calibrated.

In this regards please confirm the quantity and types of cameras which were replaced, the reasons they were considered obsolete, what happened to the obsolete cameras,and which version of pre-calibrated new camera replaced them.

This is obviously not an appeal request, just a requirement for clarification as I was unaware of any technical changes to Gatsos.

Yours faithfully,

dennis fallon

Greater Manchester Police

I am out of the office until 31/10/2011.

I will respond to your message when I return. If you require an urgent
reply please resend to [email address] or in the case of a
Freedom of Information request to [Greater Manchester Police request email]

Note: This is an automated response to your message "Re: Freedom of
Information request ref - 4524/11" sent on 21/10/2011 22:50:51.

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Greater Manchester Police

Dear Mr Fallon

I write in connection with your request for information dated 21st October
2011, which was received by Greater Manchester Police on 31st October
2011.  I note you require access to the following information:

As per email

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act). You will receive a response within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party.
In some circumstances Greater Manchester Police may be unable to achieve
this deadline.  If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.
There may be a fee payable for the retrieval, collation and provision of
the information you request.  If this is the case you will be informed and
the 20 working day timescale will be suspended until we receive payment
from you. If you choose not to make payment then your request will remain
unanswered.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.
Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact The Information Access Team, on telephone number 0161 856 2529

Kind regards

Amanda Ratcliffe
Information Access Officer
Information Access Team
Information Services Branch
Greater Manchester Police
Internal - 62531
External - 0161-856-2531
email - [email address]

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

From: dennis fallon <[FOI #84050 email]>
To: [email address]
Date: 21/10/2011 22:50
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request ref - 4524/11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Dear Ms Ratcliffe,
   
    Thank you for your helpful reply, but the response regarding point
    two requires further clarification.
   
    The response regarding point one is clear, namely that from 2008 to
    2010 the cost of calibrating a Gatso Speed Camera increased by 18%
    from £553 to £658, and the Gatso Red Light calibration increased by
    22% from £430 to £527.
    This is helpful as it indicates the escalating costs are much
    greater than inflation.
   
    Regarding point two, why the total calibration costs in 2009 were
    circa £8,000 less than calculated estimates, the response was "The
    costs of calibration were lower in 2009/2010 as obsolete cameras
    were replaced and did not require calibration"
   
    I do not understand the expression `obsolete cameras were
    replaced`, as my query relates to the 32 Gatso speed cameras and 19
    Gatso Red Light cameras as previously advised.
   
    A Gatso camera can never be considered `obsolete`as they must
    always comply with the original unchanged Type Approval, unless
    they were replaced by a newer version of Gatso complying with a
    different specification of components and which were delivered
    already calibrated.
   
    In this regards please confirm the quantity and types of cameras
    which were replaced, the reasons they were considered obsolete,
    what happened to the obsolete cameras,and which version of
    pre-calibrated new camera replaced them.
   
    This is obviously not an appeal request, just a requirement for
    clarification as I was unaware of any technical changes to Gatsos.
   
    Yours faithfully,
   
    dennis fallon
   
   

show quoted sections

Greater Manchester Police

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Fallon

Please find attached the response to your recent request made under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Many thanks

Amanda Ratcliffe
Information Access Officer
Information Access Team
Information Services Branch
Greater Manchester Police
Internal - 62531
External - 0161-856-2531
email - [email address]

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
This e mail carries a disclaimer, a copy of which may be read at:

   
http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/...

Dear Ms Ratcliffe,

I have been busy, but after finally reviewing the responses to my FOI there are still aspects that require clarification.

My original request specifically requested knowing the number of Gatso CAMERAS in use but your reply of 26th September advised of the number of SITES, namely 32 Gatso fixed and 19 Red Light.
In good faith I presumed that these figures would be equivalent but I now have confusion that all the sites had active cameras.

Additionally,after further enquiries,you have disclosed that in 2009/2010 the calibration costs changed due to some of the cameras being replaced by digital Gatso as opposed to wet film Gatso.

As a result of the initial ambigous response there still remains confusion and therefore I would appreciate clarification of the whole situation.

CLARIFICATION POINT ONE.

Subsequent to the confusion over sites vs actual cameras and wet film as opposed to digital please confirm, as originally requested in August, how many fixed post Gatso (FPG) and Gatso Red Light(GRL)
CAMERAS were in use, on an annual basis, by your partnership in the past three financial years, with additional identification of the camera type, namely `wet film` or `digital`,during each year?

CLARIFICATION POINT TWO.

The reply dated 21st October advised that for 2010/2011 the cost of calibrating one Gatso Speed Camera was £658 and one Gatso Red light was £527.
As the police area may be operating both wet film and digital cameras please confirm if the notified calibration costs of each version are identical, or the anticipated unit calibration cost for the digital version.

Sorry to bother you with this further clarification but there is obviously confusion between sites/cameras and digital/wet film.

Yours faithfully,

dennis fallon

Greater Manchester Police

Dear Mr Fallon

I write in connection with your request for information dated 7th December
2011, which was received by Greater Manchester Police on 7th December
2011.  I note you require access to the following information:

How many fixed post Gatso (FPG) and Gatso Red Light(GRL) CAMERAS were in
use, on an annual basis, by your partnership in the      past three
financial years, with additional identification of the camera type, namely
`wet film` or `digital`,during each year?

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act). You will receive a response within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party.
In some circumstances Greater Manchester Police may be unable to achieve
this deadline.  If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.
There may be a fee payable for the retrieval, collation and provision of
the information you request.  If this is the case you will be informed and
the 20 working day timescale will be suspended until we receive payment
from you. If you choose not to make payment then your request will remain
unanswered.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.
Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact The Information Access Team, on telephone number 0161 856 2529

Kind regards

Information Access TeamThis e mail carries a disclaimer, a copy of which
may be read at:

   
http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/...

Dear Greater Manchester Police,

Thank you for your acknowledgement which,unfortunately,does not note both clarification issues required.

You may treat it as a new FOI if you wish but it is actually a follow on subsequent to disclosures made four weeks ago by Amanda Ratcliffe, Information Access Officer, viewable at http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ga....

The clarifications are basically to understand the scenario and cost implications behind the introduction of digital Gatso cameras, and I hope that both clarifications will be addressed.

Yours faithfully,

dennis fallon

Greater Manchester Police

Dear Mr Fallon

In relation to your email below, the acknowledgement was for the new
request that was contained within your clarification as stated.

Regarding the points that you have asked for clarification on, I have
contacted the relevant department within the force and as soon as they
have responded I will send you the information.

Many thanks

Amanda Ratcliffe
Information Access Officer

From: dennis fallon <[FOI #84050 email]>
To: [email address]
Date: 07/12/2011 23:37
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request ref - 5795/11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Dear Greater Manchester Police,
   
    Thank you for your acknowledgement which,unfortunately,does not
    note both clarification issues required.
   
    You may treat it as a new FOI if you wish but it is actually a
    follow on subsequent to disclosures made four weeks ago by Amanda
    Ratcliffe, Information Access Officer, viewable at
   
[1]http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ga....
   
    The clarifications are basically to understand the scenario and
    cost implications behind the introduction of digital Gatso cameras,
    and I hope that both clarifications will be addressed.
   
    Yours faithfully,
   
    dennis fallon
   
   

show quoted sections

Dear Ms Ratcliffe,

Thank you very much.

To correct any possible misunderstanding,the ONLY purpose of my last communication was to point out that one of my two points for clarification had not been acknowledged,and to helpfully advise anyone dealing with the request of the previous correspondance.

I appreciate your help and a 20 day resolution time is quite satisfactory.

Yours faithfully,

dennis fallon

Greater Manchester Police

Dear Mr Fallon

I am now able to provide you with the clarification that you requested on
the 7th December 2011, I am sorry for the delay but I have been awaiting
the information from the relevant department.

The information provided in relation to the number of cameras is the
actual number of cameras and not the number of sites. The word 'site' was
put into the response by mistake and should have said camera.

Greater Manchester Police are unable to provide the information in
relation to the cost of the calibration of a digital camera as the force
has not done any calibrations on them at present, however, I can advise
that the costs are very similar.

Many thanks

Amanda Ratcliffe
Information Access Officer
Information Access Team
Information Services Branch
Greater Manchester Police
Internal - 62531
External - 0161-856-2531
email - [email address]

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

From: dennis fallon <[FOI #84050 email]>
To: [email address]
Date: 07/12/2011 12:01
Subject: Re: Freedom of information request ref - 5125/11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Dear Ms Ratcliffe,
   
    I have been busy, but after finally reviewing the responses to my
    FOI there are still aspects that require clarification.
   
    My original request specifically requested knowing the number of
    Gatso CAMERAS in use but your reply of 26th September advised of
    the number of SITES, namely 32 Gatso fixed and 19 Red Light.
    In good faith I presumed that these figures would be equivalent but
    I now have confusion that all the sites had active cameras.
   
    Additionally,after further enquiries,you have disclosed that in
    2009/2010 the calibration costs changed due to some of the cameras
    being replaced by digital Gatso as opposed to wet film Gatso.
   
    As a result of the initial ambigous response there still remains
    confusion and therefore I would appreciate clarification of the
    whole situation.
   
    CLARIFICATION POINT ONE.
   
    Subsequent to the confusion over sites vs actual cameras and wet
    film as opposed to digital please confirm, as originally requested
    in August, how many fixed post Gatso (FPG) and Gatso Red Light(GRL)
    CAMERAS were in use, on an annual basis, by your partnership in the
    past three financial years, with additional identification of the
    camera type, namely `wet film` or `digital`,during each year?
   
    CLARIFICATION POINT TWO.
   
    The reply dated 21st October advised that for 2010/2011 the cost of
    calibrating one Gatso Speed Camera was £658 and one Gatso Red light
    was £527.
    As the police area may be operating both wet film and digital
    cameras please confirm if the notified calibration costs of each
    version are identical, or the anticipated unit calibration cost for
    the digital version.
   
    Sorry to bother you with this further clarification but there is
    obviously confusion between sites/cameras and digital/wet film.
   
    Yours faithfully,
   
    dennis fallon
   
   

show quoted sections

Greater Manchester Police

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Fallon

Please find attached the response to your recent request made under the
Freedom of information act 2000.

Many thanks  
Amanda Ratcliffe
Information Access Officer
Information Access Team
Information Services Branch
Greater Manchester Police
Internal - 62531
External - 0161-856-2531
email - [email address]

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
This e mail carries a disclaimer, a copy of which may be read at:

   
http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/...

Dear Ms Ratcliffe,

Thank you for your helpful response to my request.

I now consider it to have been completed in full, but I simply repost the response below to avoid having to open it as an attachment.

"Greater Manchester Police has had the same number of cameras for the whole period that you have requested which are listed below.

34 Gatso speed cameras
11 Redspeed cameras
19 Gatso redlight cameras
2 Truvelo cameras
1 Redfusion time over distance camera

In 2009 the 34 Gatso wet film cameras were split in half to 17 wet film and the other 17 were upgraded to Gatso digital cameras".

Thank you again for your help.

Yours faithfully,

dennis fallon

Greater Manchester Police

I am out of the office until 09/01/2012.

I will respond to your message when I return. If you require an urgent
reply please resend to [email address] or in the case of a
Freedom of Information request to [Greater Manchester Police request email]

Note: This is an automated response to your message "Re: Freedom of
informtion request ref - 5795/11" sent on 22/12/2011 17:13:12.

This is the only notification you will receive while this person is away.

This e mail carries a disclaimer, a copy of which may be read at:


http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/...