|
|
Post by intransit on Jul 23, 2015 3:16:29 GMT
Since public Transport is a public service and all buses record information by the way of CCTV and voice control via their controllers....
....I became curious if an information request would stand up or viable if a request was made?
How long is such information held on account? CCTV, Radio, Telematics etc?
|
|
|
|
Post by snoggle on Jul 23, 2015 7:28:05 GMT
I am very sceptical that you could obtain CCTV images via FOI. This is simply because it is directly linked to individuals and there are exemptions about the release of personal information. FOI tends to cover the release of documents, minutes etc and even then may well have parts redacted (blanked out) so that personal or commercial info is withheld. The Police and Intelligence Services are the people who have access to CCTV images and comms data but even they have restrictions placed on them.
I would also note that individual bus companies are NOT covered by FOI as they are private businesses. It is Government, state controlled businesses and local authorities that are covered by FOI. TfL is a local authority for these purposes. I think TfL have contractual rights with the bus companies for release of some info but that's a guess so don't quote me. Whether that is for FOI purposes or more for police / security services purposes I don't know.
Having used FOI a few times with TfL it can be a massive struggle to get info released. One request, for something mildly controversial, took months and way in excess of the statutory deadlines. In the end about 6 words and a few numbers were redacted and that took months to process internally! I also happen to think that the FOI department of TfL simply lost control of the process for my request as they could offer no real explanation as to why it was so delayed. I didn't refer the problems to the Information Commissioner but got very close to doing so given the unreasonable delay.
|
|
|
|
Post by eggmiester on Jul 23, 2015 11:12:32 GMT
CCTV information will usually not be released to anyone other than those requiring reasonable grounds to see a specific incident i.e Police, Insurance, Solicitors and company Management etc.
Even when I as a supervisor make a CCTV request it usually has to be sanctioned via my manager. But in normal circumstance I'll rarely get to view it unless I'm required to or I'm directly involved in the incident (i.e I attended the incident as the company representative etc)..
Distribution of CCTV is covered by a section of the data protection act 1998.
Recorded Voice radio calls, again if easily obtainable cannot be distributed without reasonable cause and again only to those involved or with reasonable grounds for its use. Once again this is covered by the data protection act.
Like others have said, even though TFL is a government/public body the operators are not, they are private companies making money like any other business, so they would be very reluctant to release sensitive information to protected their business, not just from competition (all London companies share countless amounted of information between themselves anyway) but from any legal issues that could have a detrimental effect in the company in one way or another.
|
|
|
|
Post by 6HP502C on Jul 24, 2015 8:27:23 GMT
Since public Transport is a public service and all buses record information by the way of CCTV and voice control via their controllers.... ....I became curious if an information request would stand up or viable if a request was made? How long is such information held on account? CCTV, Radio, Telematics etc? CCTV is covered by a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act 1998. If you appear in the images, the company holds data on you so you have a legal right to obtain a copy - and the company has to provide it within 40 days. However, there are a number of exemptions which are detailed on the Information Commissioner's Office website; ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/principle-6-rights/subject-access-request/I've used this to obtain CCTV from rail operators where their staff have misbehaved and they haven't bothered to deal with my complaint properly. SARs seem to cause headaches for companies and I've seen individuals from large companies have to contact their legal teams to work out how to meet these requests. Even so, I still had to formally report one of those companies to the ICO for failure to comply satisfactorily (they missed out info I knew they had and missed the 40 day deadline) - they soon got their act together. However, you can't just request random CCTV or recordings. It has to contain data pertaining to you. |
|
