Notices of Intended Prosecution (NIPs) for speeding on the A20 (Sidcup bypass)
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.25.043044
I note you seek access to the following information:
Could you please disclose the total number of Notices of Intended Prosecution (NIPs) issued for speeding offences on the A20 (Sidcup bypass) resulting from Order 0622 (Temporary 40mph speed limit) made on 6 October 2023 by Transport for London under Chairman Sadiq Khan.
This would have been for the entire enforcement period running from December 2023 (when the cameras began enforcing) to October 2024, when the cameras were taken down. These are average speed cameras, with the first located just after Crittal's Corner (lat 51.4107deg, lon 0.1252deg) and the second located at the McDonald's layby (lat 51.4093deg, lon 0.1458deg). I understand the NIPs are automatically generated, so this data should be relatively easy to retrieve. Please also disclose
- The total number of NIPs issued broken down by month
- Total number of vehicles registered by the cameras, broken down by month
- The exact dates of when the NIPs began being issued and when they stopped being issued.
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 31 (1)(a) - Law Enforcement
Reason for decision
In relating to the site specific information requested, the MPS is required to exempt information held for Question One (1) and Two (2) of you request by virtue of the following exemption;
Section 31(1)(a)(b) - Law Enforcement - Routine disclosure of the number of speeding tickets/Camera Notice of Intended Prosecutions (NIP’s) issued for speeding at a site specific would cause operational harm to the MPS.
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 in this case would therefore reveal tactical capability and would place the MPS and the community at a tactical disadvantage. The MPS and law enforcement community 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/ Prejudice test, the disclosure of any information that provides operational intelligence 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.
The MPS considers that the benefit that would result from the information being disclosed does not outweigh the considerations favouring non-disclosure.
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 to disclose. 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.
Disclosure
Q3 - The exact dates of when the NIPs began being issued and when they stopped being issued.
The exact dates of when the NIPs began being issued and when they stopped being issued.
The MPS can confirm that NIPS were issued from 26 December 2023 to 22 August 2024.