Calibration certificate - 782/18

Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')

As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of access to information held at the time of a request, by a Public Authority (including the Police), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.

You asked:

1.A current and valid calibration certificate specific to the Gatso camera at B1318 Great North Road/Jct with Moorfield, Newcastle upon Tyne.

2.After the camera has been returned following calibration please confirm if, apart from the calibration certificate, Gatsometer B.V provide a report on any faults detected and items replaced and, if so, please identify the items and what dates they were replaced, including batteries, that have required replacement.

3.After calibration, please confirm if the cameras are returned with a shutter speed of two photographs at intervals of 0.5 seconds, and if your Camera Enforcement Officers make any adjustments to the shutter speed or flash setting prior to reinstallation and, if so, what are the setting adjustments?.

4.Regarding the secondary check viewing, please advise how the viewing staff are trained for their task, who does the training, are certificates of completion provided, and are the staff given post training assessments or hard copy reference documentation.

5.Is the work of the viewing staff audited or reviewed at intervals?

6.Please confirm the distance between the calibration lines on the road which are part of the secondary check, so that one can calculate the speed if five lines are passed. 

In Response:

We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request and I provide a response for your attention. 

Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted with the (Department/s Area Command/s) of Northumbria Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by Northumbria Police. 

I am able to disclose the located information to you as follows. 

1.  Please find attached a certificate of calibration for camera 4608. (Apr 17 – Mar 19).  A specific date for the period was not requested.  Camera systems are rotated between sites, on a round robin basis.

4. Instructions on the process of checking the secondary check marks  is cascaded down to validation staff by the Camera Enforcement Technicians.  Camera technicians are fully trained by the manufacturers of the specific camera systems.  No certificates are awarded or required.

5.  Yes, the work of the technicians is reviewed by a police officer on a monthly basis. 

For questions 2, 3 & 6.  The following exemption applies. 

Section 21 (1) - Information accessible by other means

Information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant is exempt information. 

This information has been asked for previously, released and is published on the Northumbria Police Disclosure Log.   FOI 1340/17 refers.