FOI Reference: FOI/2022/4158
You asked
- Please could you provide the name of the supplier(s) who provides CCTV systems to your department as well as the brand and total number of cameras included.
- Please also state the length of the contract with any such supplier(s) and the annual cost of the contract.
We said
Thank you for your request.
We are unable to release information about what security systems we have in place, the suppliers, equipment and versions of security software, how often we update and amend our security, whether we have identified particular issues or vulnerabilities and what we have done to strengthen those.
This is because we consider disclosing this information would make the us vulnerable to criminal acts as it would aid offenders in avoiding surveillance and protection systems.
We therefore find s.31(1)(a) to be engaged as the release of the information would prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. We believe that releasing this information would increase the likelihood of criminals using the information to successfully target activity against our premises. For example, knowing makes and number of CCTV cameras would allow criminals to know the extent of our security systems and significantly increase the likelihood of them avoiding detection during any crime. Knowing the extent of our systems could also increase the opportunity to conduct malicious attacks on the system itself, again placing ONS and its staff and assets in a much more vulnerable position.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise that releasing this information would aid transparency and accountability of the ONS, provide reassurance about whether our premises are vulnerable, and provide information about how effective our security measures are. However, we see greater value in the inherent public interest in crime prevention. There is also a public interest in avoiding the costs (financial, distress, inconvenience, publicity, regulatory) associated with any criminal or terrorist attack. By refusing this information we are also preventing any threat to the integrity and security of our sensitive data and are ensuring that we can comply with our duties to take all necessary steps to safeguard the sensitive data, including physical access to it via its premises, documents, and IT systems.
Consequently, we find the public interest falls in favour of withholding the information.
2) The management of our CCTV system sits within in our facilities management (FM) contract.
The total value of FM contract is £12,301,930.00 (Inclusive of CCTV system).
Contract dates are as follows: 01/10/2016 -- 30/09/2023