Number of attacks on Traffic Scotland speed cameras in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray: EIR release

“I am writing to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act (Scotland) 2002.

Please send me the following details:

1. The number of vandalism attacks on Traffic Scotland speed cameras in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray area during 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18.
2. Where and when these attacks took place.
3. The nature of the vandalism/attack – i.e. fire etc.”

As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations.  We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA. 

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

The Scottish Safety Camera Programme (the Programme) aims to reduce the number of casualties on Scotland’s roads by encouraging improved driver behaviour. Safety cameras are deployed through the Programme primarily where they have the greatest potential to reduce injury collisions, & where there is evidence of both collisions and speeding. These deployments are undertaken in accordance with criteria contained in the Scottish Safety Camera Handbook

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we do not have the information you have requested. Therefore we are refusing your request under the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs. The reasons why that exception applies is that Traffic Scotland are not responsible for any safety cameras. All safety cameras are deployed through the Scottish Safety Camera Program which is grant funded by Scottish Ministers. 

However, you may wish to contact Police Scotland at foi@scotland.pnn.police.uk who may be able to help you.