It has denied a Freedom of Information request submitted by this paper, asking for details on the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) handed out for breaching the road closure zone since the junction fully shut down in June.
When the request was submitted in July, this paper also asked for information on the amount of each fine it has issued and the total amount fined in the first month of the closure.
However, TfL refused to release this information – arguing that it would “reveal locations where enforcement activity is less likely to be implemented”.
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The exemption statement added that the data would “be likely to prejudice the prevention of crime” as it may “encourage people to ignore restrictions at those locations”.
In response to this, the Recorder requested that TfL conduct an internal review of the handling of the FOI request – something which is carried out by an independent panel at TfL.
This paper emphasised that we did not request specific locations or road names where fines have been issued, or where cameras are located, but simply asked for the number of PCNs handed out as a whole.
However, the independent panel also refused to release the information – despite this paper’s argument that it is in the public interest to do so.
The panel concluded that disclosing the information would create a “very real risk” that drivers would breach the closure restrictions.
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The review statement said: “It would be impractical and financially imprudent for an authority to have 24/7 enforcement monitoring capabilities across the whole of a vast transport network.
“Every authority therefore must rely on an overall deterrent effect through targeted enforcement so drivers take more heed along their entire journey.
“By continuing to publish information concerning TfL’s enforcement capacity and/or sites at which enforcement takes place would, in effect, provide knowledge of areas where enforcement action is not as heavily targeted, thus negating any deterrent for drivers to adhere to the regulations.”
The Recorder asked TfL if, as this exemption suggests, it has not been issuing fines for Gallows Corner breaches at all – and if not, then what action has been taken against anyone not following the closure restrictions.
TfL did not respond to these questions.
