FOI 426/25

REQUEST 

1. The number of drivers prosecuted for using a handheld mobile phone in the areas covered by South Wales Police.

Please could the information be provided for the last five calendar years (2019 to 2024), with the number of prosecutions for each calendar year.

2. Would you also be able to provide the number of prosecutions for using a handheld mobile phone in area covered by the force for the above time periods by age within these calendar years.

3. The total figures of drivers convictedfor the last five calendar years (2019 to 2024), with the number of prosecutions for each calendar year.

RESPONSE

We consulted with our CTO (Central Ticket Office) and our Motoring Unit who have provided the below response to your request.

Question 1

Please note the above figures cover offences detected by safety cameras and officer witnessed offences.

Question 2

Unfortunately, we do not hold specific ages for officer witnessed offences as we only record DOB and not specific ages on our systems. Under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) we are not obliged to create information in order to comply with a request. We are only able to provide recorded information.

We can confirm figures are held for ages of individuals detected by safety cameras however due to the low figures we are not obliged to comply with your request for the specific age of each individual. The following exemption applies:

Section 40(2) - Personal Information

Section 40(2) is an absolute class-based exemption and therefore the authority is not required to consider the public interest in disclosure.

The Data Protection Act covers processing of personal data about a living individual. Personal data means data which relate to a living individual who can be identified-

1. from those data, or
2. from those data and other information which is in the possession of, or is likely to come into the possession of, the data controller or any other person in respect of the individual.

Information will “relate to” a person if it is about them, linked to them, has some biographical significance for them, is used to inform decisions affecting them, has them as its main focus or impacts on them in any way.

If we disclosed these details, this would provide significant detail which could identify an individual and would breach the first principle of the Data Protection Act 2018.

In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a refusal notice for this part of your request.

Question 3

South Wales Police do not hold data on prosecutions. Under S16 our duty to advise and assist you may wish to submit this part of your request to CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) using the link provided below:

Freedom of Information | The Crown Prosecution Service (cps.gov.uk)