Our Ref: NY09163

Date: 17 September 2024

Freedom of information request reference number: NY9163
I write in connection with your request for information that was received by the York and North Yorkshire Office for Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning (OPFCC) on 20 August 2024.

Request:
I am writing to you to request the report provided by Newcastle University into the Academic Enforcement Review which I understand, from a telephone call discussion the previous PFCC held with me, was to assess the efficacy of various speed enforcement strategies including fixed and average speed cameras, mobile speed cameras and perhaps others that we are unaware of. I would also be interested in the brief provided to the university which would have set out the scope of the review.

Response:
To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within the OPFCC.
I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by the OPFCC.

I have decided to partially disclose the information requested above:
Brief
Please find attached a document outlining the scope of the academic review: Scope of Academic Enforcement Review

Report
The information you have requested is part of an ongoing research programme being conducted into road safety enforcement systems. The research needs to be finalised before it is published and therefore subject to public scrutiny.
I have therefore decided to exempt providing you with a response pursuant to Section 22a Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act).

Section 17 of the Act requires the OPFCC, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies. Please see the relevant exemption header below for further detail.

Exemptions Explained
Section 22A – Information Intended For Future Publication
This exemption applies when the information sought is part of an ongoing research programme and there is a plan to publish a report of the outcome. The disclosure of the requested information before the date of publication would, or would likely to, prejudice the programme, the interests of any individual participating in the programme or the interests of the authority which holds the information. This is a qualified, class-based exemption and is subject to a public interest test.

Pursuant to Section 17(1) of the Act this letter acts as a Refusal Notice in response to your request.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. It should be noted therefore that the OPFCC’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.

Update 22/01/2025

Date: 22 January 2025
Freedom of information request reference number: NY9163

I write to provide you with an update in connection with your request for information that was received by the York and North Yorkshire Office for Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning (OPFCC) on 20 August 2024.

As you know, we replied to your request on 17 September 2024, providing some information, but not disclosing the full Academic Enforcement Review by Newcastle University, as the research wasn’t completely finalised and publishing at that stage may have prejudiced further research.

We can now confirm that the full report was published on our website on 10 January 2025 and can be viewed here – Road Safety Enforcement review – Newcastle University – York & North Yorkshire Office for Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning

By publishing the report, we have now lifted the exemption related to this freedom of information request – section 22a.

Exemptions Explained

Section 22A – Information Intended For Future Publication
This exemption applies when the information sought is part of an ongoing research programme and there is a plan to publish a report of the outcome.  The disclosure of the requested information before the date of publication would, or would likely to, prejudice the programme, the interests of any individual participating in the programme or the interests of the authority which holds the information.  This is a qualified, class-based exemption and is subject to a public interest test.

 

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that the OPFCC’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.