Information in relation to Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)

 

I note you seek access to the following information:

 

1• The total volume of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) entries annually recorded by cameras owned by the Metropolitan Police Service and submitted to a Back Office Facility, from the last three calendar years until November 2023 

 

2• The total volume of ANPR entries annually received from Transport for London, from the last three calendar years until November 2023 

 

3• Contacts relating to the procurement of the current contractor responsible for maintaining ANPR data processed by cameras owned by the Metropolitan Police Service 

 

4• Any Data Protection Impact Assessment Documents relating to the use of ANPR technology by Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police Service 

 

5• Any Memorandum of Understanding documents or similar relating to the installation of ANPR cameras between Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police Service I would like all documents sent electronically please. Under Section 16 of the Act, I also ask that if this request cannot be fulfilled under the legislation, that you offer advice and assistance to help the request comply with the act. I look forward to your response within 20 working days. 

I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information.  Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:

 

Section 43 (2) Commercial Interests

 

 

Information relating to the contracts in question 3 is exempt from disclosure.

 

Section 43(2) - Commercial Interests - provides that any information is exempt if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person. 

 

The MPS has claimed Section 43(2) of the Act, in that the disclosure of the contracts in question 3 would reveal information that would prejudice the commercial interests of the MPS and bidders (including future bidders). 

 

Public disclosure would harm the Met’s ability to achieve best value in future procurement processes in this area. The MPS would not want to public disclose information regarding bidders that would make any future procurement process in this area less competitive. The release of any information that would negatively influence, or impact upon, a future procurement process is unlikely to be in the public interest. 

 

In this case, disclosure would harm future procurement processes in respect of disclosing information about MPS choices regarding third party companies. This would occur as competitors in this process would be aware of the price paid by the MPS for support and maintenance in respect of its current contracts. This would negatively impact upon the Met’s ability to achieve best value in future procurement processes in this area along with undermining third parties who were not successful. 

 

Having considered the competing public interest factors, I have found that the public release of information that would negatively influence or impact upon a procurement process is not in the public interest. I have accordingly refused this part of your request for information. 

 

 

 

 

Please see below table:

	TfL	MPS	Total
2020	2,142,189,856	402,702,559	2,544,892,415
2021	2,124,763,733	456,027,168	2,580,790,901
2022	1,119,712,485	848,983,821	1,968,696,306
2023	227,578,270	1,283,106,144	1,510,684,414

 

The Current DPIA that covers MetBOF (Back Office Function) is published online by TfL. It can be accessed at TFL ULEZ EXPANSION: SHARING DATA AND IMAGERY WITH THE MPS.pdf

 

 

No information held.  The MPS was not involved in any consultations with TfL on the installation of their cameras.