NIPs issued on the stretch of from West of Sandy Lane to East of Cookham Road

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.036079

I note you seek access to the following information:

This FOI request is in relation to The A20 GLA Road (Sidcup By-Pass, London Boroughs Of Bexley And Bromley) (Temporary 40 M.P.H. Speed Limit) Order 2023, and the average speed cameras installed on the following stretch of road:.

Please provide the following information

1 - The number of Notices of Intender Prosecutions (NIPs) issued for speeding as a result of the above cameras for each day from 20 December 2023 to 31 January 2024. NIPs should be allocated by date of alleged contravention.

2 - The top 100 speed cameras by number of NIPs issued by the Met Police for speeding where the alleged contravention occurred between 1 January 2024 and 31 January 2024 inclusive. The number of NIPs should be included for each speed camera.

3 - Any advice received by the Met police in relation to the viability, appropriateness or lawfulness of prosecuting drivers for speeding on the above stretch of road

Decision

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).

In questions one and two above, you have asked for information on site specific speed cameras however, we are not required by statute to release information on Camera detections/activations and Notices of Intended (NIP’s) issued. Therefore this information is exempt by virtue of the following exemption.

Section 31 (1)(a)(b) – Law Enforcement.

Reason for decision

Section 31(1)(a)(b) - Law Enforcement - Information released under the Freedom of Information Act is released into the public domain, and not just to the individual requesting the information. While some individual requests for site specific safety-camera data may pose no threat to the prevention or detection of crime or to public safety, it is possible that subsequent requests of a similar nature could enable camera deployment and enforcement patterns to be plotted.

In these circumstances the information requested would, enable individuals to draw conclusions about the likelihood of being caught on camera at specific locations. If numbers of offence detection were released, it may enable the public to predict likely camera deployment patterns. This could potentially lead to individuals making decisions about where it is and is not “safe” to speed or jump the lights.

In addition, there is documented evidence that the release of information relating to safety cameras which generate the most offences has resulted in those camera sites being subject to criminal damage.

To disclose information in relation to NIPs issued would therefore reveal tactical capability and would place the MPS at a tactical disadvantage. The MPS has a duty to protect the public from harm and that duty of care to all involved must be the overriding consideration. It cannot be in the public interest to disclose information which would undermine our ability to detect crime and bring offenders to justice. Specific information would reveal resource information and intelligence that would be extremely valuable to those wishing to carry out such infractions.

As detailed within the 'harm', the disclosure of any information that provides information in relation to the deployment and use of police resources would be a valuable asset to individuals and/or organisations wishing to commit crimes. In addition, more crimes would be committed which would place the safety of the general public at risk.

Whilst there is public interest in the transparency of policing resources and providing reassurance that the MPS is appropriately and effectively ensuring that their resources are used effectively and appropriately, there is also a strong public interest in knowing that policing activity with regard to the delivery of law enforcement is operationally effective.

Public safety is of paramount importance and any information which would undermine policing tactics and consequently place individuals at risk is not in the public interest. The effective delivery of operational law enforcement is crucial and of paramount importance to the MPS.

Disclosure of information that would undermine the operational integrity of effective law enforcement and will undoubtedly adversely affect public safety as more crimes would be committed.

We are therefore unable to disclose the NIP data by the location requested, as we believe that there is a stronger public interest in ensuring that the overall effectiveness of speed cameras is not undermined or compromised.

To provide the number of violations/detections and NIP’s issued by a site specific speed camera, would cause operational harm to the MPS.

Disclosure

Q3 - Any advice received by the Met police in relation to the viability, appropriateness or lawfulness of prosecuting drivers for speeding on the above stretch of road.

In October 2023 a temporary traffic management order (TMO) was introduced and reduced the speed limit from 50 mph to 40 mph on the eastbound A20 near Sidcup. This decision was taken by Transport for London (TfL) following road safety concerns and a number of collisions attributed to surface water on the carriageway, with speed being the significant contributory factor between 2019 and 2022.

New 40 mph signage was installed to reflect this new speed change coming in to force on 18 October 2023 which also included separate temporary Variable Messaging Signs (VMS) installed on 04 October 2023, to forewarn motorists of the impending change. Police are also aware that senior representatives from TfL approached the local council to explain the reasons for implementing the reduced speed limit. The wording on the VMS read “New 40 mph speed limit ahead to improve safety”. These were placed at the slip roads at Frognall’s corner and Crittall’s corner for Kent bound traffic for several weeks. There was also a VMS located at the start of the change of speed on the A20 (Kent bound) where initially it was 50 mph but had been changed to indicate a new 40 mph speed limit.

The Met carried out a full commissioning process on 24 October 2023 and 04 January 2024 when police were satisfied that signage was correct and in fact exceeds the minimum signage requirements laid out in The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD).