Met and TFL get ANPR and excempt from DPA

Date: 17 July 2007

Transport for London and the Met Police not only use ANPR but are now exempt from certain parts of the Data Protection act, after the Home Secretary (Jacqui Smith as the time), signed a certificate to exempt them.

The Minister of State, Home Department (Mr. Tony McNulty): I would like to inform the House that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has signed a certificate to exempt Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) from certain provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 to facilitate the bulk transfer of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data from TfL to the MPS. The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police believes that it is necessary due to the enduring, vehicle-borne terrorist threat to London. The MPS requires bulk ANPR data from TfL’s camera network in London specifically for terrorism intelligence purposes and to prevent and investigate such offences. The infrastructure will allow the realtime flow of data between TfL and the MPS.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070717/wmstext/70717m0002.htm#07071769000274

One Response to “Met and TFL get ANPR and excempt from DPA”

  1. How to Hack an Oyster Card « Where is Your Data? Says:

    […] the TFL (Transport For London) who operate the London Underground, have an exemption from the data protection act, which allows MI5 and the police to get near live data from the system, so track people moving […]


Leave a comment