Use of Body Worn Video
Dear North Devon Council,
I am writing to make an open government request for all the
information to which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000.
Please send me:
The details of your use of body cameras in your organisation –
Does anyone (staff or contractors) in your organisation use/wear body cameras or body worn video recording devices while performing their duties?
If yes, please detail:
Who provides the body cameras and footage/evidence management used by your organisation?
How many staff members use body cameras and what capacities/teams do they work in? Are they staff or contractors (for e.g. outsourced security personnel)
How many body cameras in all are currently owned and/or used by your organisation?
Were the cameras bought as a one off purchase and if so, how much did they cost your organisation?
If they are part of an ongoing contract - what is the current contract term (how long is it and when does it expire) and what is the value of said contract?
Where is the data recorded stored – on premises locally or on cloud?
Who is the point of contact for your body camera programme?
I would like the above information to be provided to me via email.
If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you
could contact me as I understand that under the Act, you are
required to advise and assist requesters. If any of this
information is already in the public domain, please can you direct
me to it, with page references and URLs if necessary.
If the release of any of this information is prohibited on the
grounds of breach of confidence, I ask that you supply me with
copies of the confidentiality agreement and remind you that
information should not be treated as confidential if such an
agreement has not been signed.
I understand that you are required to respond to my request within
the 20 working days after you receive this letter.
I would be grateful if you could confirm that you have received
this request, preferably via email.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Lucy Johnson
Dear Ms Johnson
Thank you for your request received this morning, for which I acknowledge receipt.
Your request is now being dealt with in accordance with the Act and will be processed and responded to no later than 5 February, in accordance with the statutory time limit.
The Council has an adopted charging policy for dealing with requests for information under FOIA and EIR which is published on the Council's website:
https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/council/ch...
I will write to you in advance should the processing of your request require a fee, or if we should require further any information/clarification from you.
Yours sincerely
Vicky Eagle
Administrator, FOI & EIR
Legal Services
North Devon Council
PO Box 379, Barnstaple, EX32 2GR
[North Devon Council request email]
Dear Ms Johnson
I write in response to your request for information received 8 January, in which you requested the details of the Council's use of body cameras:
1. Does anyone (staff or contractors) in the authority use/wear body cameras or body worn video recording devices while performing their duties? If yes, please detail
2. Who provides the body cameras and footage/evidence management used by the authority?
3. How many staff members use body cameras and what capacities/teams do they work in?
4. Are they staff or contractors (for e.g. outsourced security personnel)?
5. How many body cameras in all are currently owned and/or used by the authority?
6. Were the cameras bought as a one off purchase and if so, how much did they cost
7. If they are part of an ongoing contract, what is the current contract term (how long is it and when does it expire) and what is the value of said contract?
8. Where is the data recorded stored, on premises locally or on cloud?
9. Who is the point of contact for the authority’s body camera programme?
Section 1(1)(a) of the Act requires the Council to inform you whether it holds information of the description specified in your request. I confirm that the Council does hold some of this information. In discharge of its obligation under section 1(1)(b) I can provide you with the following information in response:
1. No, however the Council's Parking team advises that Loomis UK Ltd operatives, the contractor used for cash collecting for North Devon Council do wear body cameras.
2. Loomis UK Ltd.
3. No Council employees use body cameras, but the Council is aware that Loomis UK Ltd operatives wear body cameras.
4. Contractor - Loomis UK Ltd.
5. None are owned by the Council. The Council does not know how many body worn camera are used by Loomis operatives
6. This information is not held by the Council.
7. The details of the contract between the authority and Loomis are published on the Council's Contract Register:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Contra...
In accordance with Section 21(1) of the Act, the Council is not obliged to provide information that is already in the public domain. However, it does have a duty under Section 16(1) to provide all applicants advice and assistance in order to assist with locating the information, which I have done so in providing you with the link to the information as above.
8. The Council does not hold any data recorded, this is held by Loomis, the Council does not hold details of the format of storage, however their website provides the following regarding Body Worn Video:
http://www.loomis.co.uk/about/body-worn-...
9. The Council does not have a body camera programme, however the Council officer who is the primary contact for the aforementioned contract, their contact details are published on the link provided under Q7.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to request an internal review which should be received within two months from the date of the response letter and should be sent to;
Head of Corporate & Community
Legal Services
North Devon Council
PO Box 379, Barnstaple, EX32 2GR
[North Devon Council request email]
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545 745
Fax: 01625 524 510
Email: [email address]
Yours sincerely
Vicky Eagle
Administrator, FOI & EIR
Legal Services
North Devon Council
PO Box 379, Barnstaple, EX32 2GR
[North Devon Council request email]
Tel: 01271 388262
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