Request for information - Ref No: FOI231174
Request
Thank you for your email of 25 August 2023, requesting information from Ordnance Survey in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000, as set out in the extract below:
“The information I require is to do with the organisation’s CCTV maintenance and support contract.
Please can you send me the information stated below:
- Supplier of the contract for CCTV maintenance and support
- How much does the Org/s spend annually with the supplier? (if multiple suppliers please list the annual spend for each)
- What is the renewal date of this contract?
- What is the duration of the contract?
- What is the review date of this contract? If possible the likely outcome of this review
- The primary brand of the CCTV equipment. I don’t require the model just the brand. If there is various brands could you please list?
- What is the total number of cameras in use/under this contract?
- The description of the services provided under this contract. Please state if this contract includes more than just CCTV services.
- Contact details of the employee responsible for the contract between the supplier and the organisation. Can you please provide me with their full contact details
If there is no CCTV maintenance contract in place
- What is the brand of CCTV cameras in use? if there is variety could you please send me a list? I do not need the serial number or model just the brand.
- How much is the average annual spend on the in-house maintenance?
- How many cameras are in use?
- Is there a plan to review this at any point, if so what would the date be?
- Who is in charge of overseeing the in-house maintenance?
If there is no maintenance contract or in-house maintenance in place, is there a ad-hoc agreement?
If yes,
- Who is the supplier? Is this varies could you please list?
- What is the brand of CCTV cameras in use? if there is variety could you please send me a list? I do not need the serial number or model just the brand.
- How many cameras are in use?
- How much is the average annual spend on the ad-hoc agreement?
- What is the date it is to be reviewed?”
Our response
I confirm that Ordnance Survey does hold some of the information you have requested. Where the information is not held or exempt from disclosure this is stated.
Taking each request in turn, I confirm the following:
1. Supplier of the contract for CCTV maintenance and support
Scutum Group.
2. How much does the Org/s spend annually with the supplier? (if multiple suppliers please list the annual spend for each)
£6,119.20.
3. What is the renewal date of this contract?
01/06/2024.
4. What is the duration of the contract?
12 Months.
5. What is the review date of this contract? If possible, the likely outcome of this review.
Review date is March 2023. The Possible outcome is not known.
6. The primary brand of the CCTV equipment. I don’t require the model just the brand. If there is various brands, could you please list?
See response to question 7 below.
7. What is the total number of cameras in use/under this contract?
The information you requested at question 6 and 7 is exempt under section 31(1)(a) (Law enforcement), of the FOIA and is therefore withheld, as explained below:
Section 31(1)(a) exempts information if its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the prevention and detection of crime; the CCTV cameras at our premise help to ensure the security of our premise and the safety of our staff and visitors; by disclosing this information it could be used by hostile attackers to support an attempt to build up a picture of how OS protects itself against such attacks. Attackers would have knowledge which would assist them in identifying any potential vulnerabilities in the cameras, by revealing the brand and number of cameras this would enable them to make a targeted attack.
This is a qualified exemption, and we are required to consider the public interest.
Public Interest
OS recognises the need for transparency; and that there is a public interest in knowing that OS has measures in place to prevent crime; however, confirming the number of cameras and the brand could be used to facilitate crime as it would be likely to assist someone in determining the effectiveness of our security systems in place, as they could identify possible vulnerabilities in the camera and reduce the target for attackers against a specific brand of camera, making us vulnerable to a hostile attack on our building, staff and visitors.
Section 31(1)(a) is a prejudice-based exemption, and there is a public interest inherent in avoiding the harm specified. OS considers that the prejudice would be likely to occur, and we are satisfied there is a greater public interest in protecting our premise, and the safety of our staff and visitors by withholding the information under this exemption.
8. The description of the services provided under this contract. Please state if this contract includes more than just CCTV services
Security, Intruder alarms, Access control systems maintenance, CCTV
9. Contact details of the employee responsible for the contract between the supplier and the organisation. Can you please provide me with their full contact details
Name: Neil Broughton-Mabbitt
Please visit our Procurement page on our website for the 'contact us form'
We have not responded to the remainder of the questions in your request as these are not applicable to OS and we therefore do not hold the requested information.
Internal review
Your enquiry has been processed according to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. If you are unhappy with our response, you may request an internal review with our Internal Review Officer by contacting them, within two months of receipt of our final response to your Freedom of Information (FOI) request, as follows:
Internal Review Officer
Customer Service Centre
Ordnance Survey
Adanac Drive
Southampton
SO16 0AS
Please include the reference number above. You may request an internal review where you believe Ordnance Survey has:
- Failed to respond to your request within the time limits (normally 20 working days)
- Failed to tell you whether or not we hold the information
- Failed to provide the information you have requested
- Failed to explain the reasons for refusing a request
- Failed to correctly apply an exemption or exception
The Internal Review Officer will not have been involved in the original decision. They will conduct an independent internal review and will inform you of the outcome of the review normally within 20 working days, but exceptionally within 40 working days, in line with the Information Commissioner’s guidance.
The Internal Review Officer will either: uphold the original decision, provide an additional explanation of the exemption/s applied or release further information, if it is considered appropriate to do so.
Appeal to Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
If, following the outcome of the internal review you remain unhappy with our response, you may raise an appeal, within three months of receiving our response, with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Further information can be found on the ICO website.