CCTV cameras used within police estates

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.041290

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. What brand of CCTV cameras are in use? If there are multiple please provide a list
2. How many cameras are in list across the estate? (If there are multiple vendors please could you provide a breakdown of how many devices per vendor)
3. What is the annual spend on new CCTV cameras?
4. Who is the senior officer (outside of procurement) responsible for this?
5. When did you last replace the cameras?
6. When are the existing cameras due to be replaced?

Redefined request -
For the police estate only, please

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) by virtue of the following exemptions:

Section 40(2)&(3) - Personal Information

Reason for decision

Section 40(2)(a)(b) of the Act provides that any information to which a request for information relates, is exempt information if the first condition of Section 40(3A)(a) is satisfied. The first condition of Section 40(3A)(a) states that personal information is exempt if its disclosure would contravene any of the data protection principles. If the disclosure of the requested personal data would not contravene the data protection principles, the disclosure must also not contravene Sections 3A(b) and 3B of the Act.

There are six principles that are set out in Article 5(1)(a) of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) that dictate when the processing of personal data is lawful. The first principle requires that any processing of personal data must be lawful, fair and transparent. Under Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, the disclosure of personal data is considered to be lawful if:

1. There is a legitimate interest in the disclosure of that personal data.
2. The disclosure of the personal data is necessary to meet that legitimate interest.
3. The disclosure would not cause unwarranted harm to the data subject.

Having considered the release of information relating to question 4, which asks for the name of the individual who holds this post I have found, having considered the legitimate interest test, that:

1. The disclosure of this information would satisfy an identifiable legitimate interest, being to provide information that will show transparency.
2. This disclosure of the requested personal data is necessary to satisfy the legitimate interest identified at point a.
3. However, publication of the name of an individual would be likely to lead to unwanted and unsolicited intrusion. In this regard, I believe that disclosure of this personal data would be likely to cause unwarranted harm.

The provision to refuse access to information under Section 40(2)(a)(b) and (3A)(a) of the Act is both absolute and class based. When this exemption is claimed, it is accepted that harm would result from disclosure. There is accordingly no requirement to demonstrate what that harm may be in refusing access to information.

Disclosure

Q1 - What brand of CCTV cameras are in use? If there are multiple please provide a list

The MPS does not specify camera or recording system makes/brands when procuring CCTV systems for use within the Met Estate. Information on makes/brands is not recorded.

Q2 - How many cameras are in list across the estate? (If there are multiple vendors please could you provide a breakdown of how many devices per vendor)

Approximately 4000. As per Q1, the MPS does not hold a list of cameras by vendor.

Q3 - What is the annual spend on new CCTV cameras?

There is no dedicated annual Estate CCTV budget and annual spend is not collated so this information is not held.

Q4 - Who is the senior officer (outside of procurement) responsible for this?

Assistant Director of Estates Security, Property Services

Q5 - When did you last replace the cameras?

Estate CCTV cameras are replaced on a like-for-like basis, dependant on need, and as part of larger estate-related projects.

Q6 - When are the existing cameras due to be replaced?

Estate CCTV cameras are replaced based on their condition and functionality, rather than a specific timeframe.