Gatso Calibration and Training

The request was successful.

Dear Cambridgeshire Constabulary,

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

Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Dear Dennis

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 0470/2011

We acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information (FOI) request which
was received by Cambridgeshire Constabulary on 25/08/2011

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. You will receive a response within the statutory
timescale of twenty working days as defined by the Act. In some
circumstances, we may be unable to achieve this deadline. If this is the
case, you will be informed and given a revised time-scale at the earliest
opportunity.

If we require any further clarification regarding this request, you will
be notified.

We would advise you that the nature of certain requests may involve
payment of a fee. If this is the case, you will be notified.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
telephone on 0345 456 456 4 asking for the Information Access Office or
email [Cambridgeshire Constabulary request email]

Regards

Alec Taylor
Information Access Office
Cambridgeshire Constabulary

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Dear Mr Taylot, Info Access,

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

Dear Mr Taylor, Info Access,

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

Cambridgeshire Constabulary

4 Attachments

Dear Dennis

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 0470/2011

In reply to your request for information under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000, dated 25/08/2011

Your request was received as:
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.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act) requires us to handle all
requests in a manner that is blind to the identity of the requestor. Any
information released in response to a request is regarded as being
published, and therefore in the public domain without caveat.

We have completed all searches within Cambridgeshire Constabulary and
hereby enclose your response.

>>>Your request eight questions about safety cameras in use by
Cambridgeshire Constabulary. We have reviewed the information we hold and
give our answers below.

Q1 - Asked for the number of Gatso Red Light and Fixed Post Gatso cameras
we have. Our response is below:

Q2 - Asked for the Total Cost amounts paid for the annual calibration of
these cameras. Our response is below:

Q3 - Asked about ownership of the cameras. We can confirm that all cameras
are owned.

Q4 - Asked about calibration contracts. We do not have any calibration
contracts.

Q5 - Asked about reports associated with the return of a camera from
calibration. We have reviewed the information we hold and have to advise
that we hold no information to answer this question.

Q6 - Asked about shutter speeds of two paragraphs. We have reviewed the
information we hold and have to advise that we hold no information to
answer this question.

Q7 - Asked about the training of staff in relation to secondary check. We
have reviewed the information we hold to answer this question and advise
that we hold no information to answer this question.

Q8 - Asked for information about the lines on the road that form part of
the secondary check for Fixed Post Gatso cameras. We have reviewed the
information and can advise that our lines are two metres apart.

If you are unhappy with this response, please see the attachment below,
which sets out your rights to appeal.
(See attached file: Complaint Rights May-11.pdf)

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact the Information Access Office via email, or on telephone number
0345 456 456 4 extension 8163.

Regards

Alec Taylor
Information Access Office
Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Dear Cambridgeshire Constabulary,
Unfortunately I made an error in part of my original request
because I was hoping to calculate the annual costs for calibrating
each camera, but forgot to allow for the fact that each camera type
has a different calibration cost and, in some circumstances
calibration may be additionally required at different times.

I am sorry about this oversight on my part,because it is now
necessary to request the information more directly.
You may wish to treat as a new request or simply as further
clarification.

CLARIFICATION POINT ONE.
Please confirm the total cost of single calibration of one Gatso Speed Camera for each of the past three years, with the same data for one Gatso Red Light Camera, so that comparisons and trends may be
appreciated.

CLARIFICATION POINT TWO.
The answers to Q5 and Q6 are absolutely amazing as they appear to indicate that the police are unaware of the crucial fixed shutter speeds of their cameras.
If this is the case I would appreciate signposting as to who within the partnership should hold this information.

Yours faithfully,

dennis fallon

Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Dear Dennis

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 0527/2011

We acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information (FOI) request which
was received by Cambridgeshire Constabulary on 23/09/2011

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. You will receive a response within the statutory
timescale of twenty working days as defined by the Act. In some
circumstances, we may be unable to achieve this deadline. If this is the
case, you will be informed and given a revised time-scale at the earliest
opportunity.

If we require any further clarification regarding this request, you will
be notified.

We would advise you that the nature of certain requests may involve
payment of a fee. If this is the case, you will be notified.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
telephone on 0345 456 456 4 asking for the Information Access Office or
email [Cambridgeshire Constabulary request email]

Regards

Alec Taylor
Information Access Office
Cambridgeshire Constabulary

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Cambridgeshire Constabulary

1 Attachment

Dear Dennis

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 0527/11

In reply to your request for information under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000, received 23/09/11.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act) requires us to handle all
requests in a manner that is blind to the identity of the requestor. Any
information released in response to a request is regarded as being
published, and therefore in the public domain without caveat.

Request

Unfortunately I made an error in part of my original request because I was
hoping to calculate the annual costs for calibrating each camera, but
forgot to allow for the fact that each camera type has a different
calibration cost and, in some circumstances calibration may be
additionally required at different times.

I am sorry about this oversight on my part,because it is now necessary to
request the information more directly. You may wish to treat as a new
request or simply as further clarification.

CLARIFICATION POINT ONE.
Please confirm the total cost of single calibration of one Gatso Speed
Camera for each of the past three years, with the same data for one Gatso
Red Light Camera, so that comparisons and trends may be appreciated.

CLARIFICATION POINT TWO.
The answers to Q5 and Q6 are absolutely amazing as they appear to indicate
that the police are unaware of the crucial fixed shutter speeds of their
cameras.
If this is the case I would appreciate signposting as to who within the
partnership should hold this information.

We have completed all searches within Cambridgeshire Constabulary and
hereby enclose your response.

Response

1.
2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011
RLC £505 £526 £548
FPG £553 £636 £684

2. Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate any information to satisfy
your request, as we do not hold this information. We do not hold any
recorded information on the shutter speeds of the cameras.

If you are unhappy with this response, please see the attachment below,
which sets out your rights to appeal.
(See attached file: Complaint Rights May-11.pdf)

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact the Information Access Office via email, or on telephone number
0345 456 456 4 extension 8165.

Regards

Donna Milton
Information Access Office
Cambridgeshire Constabulary

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Dear Ms Milton,

There must be a misunderstanding in your reply to Q2, the shutter speed of the FPG
" Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate any information to satisfy your request, as we do not hold this information. We do not hold any recorded information on the shutter speeds of the cameras".

The term `shutter speed` means how quickly the shutter moves between photographs, which is alternately known as the time between photographs.

It is generally accepted that two photographs are taken at 0.5 second intervals,but it is possible to adjust the timing to 0.6,0.7 or greater.

The Camera Enforcement Officer, and the police, must be aware of the intervals between photographs in order to calculate the secondary check, and the CEO must be aware if they have to change any settings after return from calibration.

Please review your response to Q2 in the light of this explanation as it is impossible not to know the answer.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours faithfully,

dennis fallon

Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Dear Dennis

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 0540/11

We acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information (FOI) request which
was received by Cambridgeshire Constabulary on 30/09/11.

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. You will receive a response within the statutory
timescale of twenty working days as defined by the Act. In some
circumstances, we may be unable to achieve this deadline. If this is the
case, you will be informed and given a revised time-scale at the earliest
opportunity.

If we require any further clarification regarding this request, you will
be notified.

We would advise you that the nature of certain requests may involve
payment of a fee. If this is the case, you will be notified.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
telephone on 0345 456 456 4 asking for the Information Access Office or
email [Cambridgeshire Constabulary request email]

Regards

Donna Milton
Information Access Office
Cambridgeshire Constabulary

show quoted sections

Cambridgeshire Constabulary

1 Attachment

Dear Dennis

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 0540/2011

In reply to your request for information under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000, dated 29th September 2011 and received within the constabulary
as follows:

There must be a misunderstanding in your reply to Q2, the shutter
speed of the FPG
" Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate any information to
satisfy your request, as we do not hold this information. We do not
hold any recorded information on the shutter speeds of the
cameras".

The term `shutter speed` means how quickly the shutter moves
between photographs, which is alternately known as the time between
photographs.

It is generally accepted that two photographs are taken at 0.5
second intervals,but it is possible to adjust the timing to 0.6,0.7
or greater.

The Camera Enforcement Officer, and the police, must be aware of
the intervals between photographs in order to calculate the
secondary check, and the CEO must be aware if they have to change
any settings after return from calibration.

Please review your response to Q2 in the light of this explanation
as it is impossible not to know the answer.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act) requires us to handle all
requests in a manner that is blind to the identity of the requestor. Any
information released in response to a request is regarded as being
published, and therefore in the public domain without caveat.

We have completed all searches within Cambridgeshire Constabulary and
hereby enclose your response.

Your request has been considered in our understanding of the term "shutter
speed" as being the exposure time of one photographic image, which appears
to be at variance to your interpretation and it is this conflict which has
resulted in your request.

Since S16 of the Act requires a Public Authority, in this case
Cambridgeshire Constabulary, to provide assistance to a requestor, I can
advise you that the shutter speed of our cameras is 1/1000th of a second
and the lapse time between photographs is set at 0.5 seconds. I would also
advise that there are a number of websites in the public domain which
provide information as to how the various types of safety cameras operate,
which you may also find useful.

Should you believe that we have misinterpreted your request, I would be
happy to discuss it with you in order that I can be sure that you receive
the right information. I may be contacted through the 0345 456 456 4 and
ask for extension 8164.

If you are unhappy with this response, please see the attachment below,
which sets out your rights to appeal.
(See attached file: Complaint Rights May-11.pdf)

Regards

David

David Price
Information Access Office
Cambridgeshire Constabulary

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Dear Mr Price,
Thank you, and your colleagues, for you helpful and now complete reply.

It would have been useful for you to have asked for clarification of shutter speed, commonly accepted as interval between photographs, rather than originally issuing a blanket refusal.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

dennis fallon

Cambridgeshire Constabulary

3 Attachments

Dear Mr Fallon.

Thank you, we appreciate your comments and will act upon them in future
requests where such doubt may arise.

Regards

David

Information Access Office
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
[1]Inactive hide details for dennis fallon
<[FOI #84041 email]>dennis fallon
<[FOI #84041 email]>

dennis fallon To [Cambridgeshire Constabulary request email]
<[FOI #84041 email]> cc
Subject Re: Freedom of
10/10/2011 09:01 Information Response :
Ref No 0540/2011 ~[NOT
PROTECTIVELY MARKED]~

     Dear Mr Price,
    Thank you, and your colleagues, for you helpful and now complete
    reply.
   
    It would have been useful for you to have asked for clarification
    of shutter speed, commonly accepted as interval between
    photographs, rather than originally issuing a blanket refusal.
   
    Thanking you,
   
    Yours faithfully,
   
    dennis fallon
   
   

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