§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 31, (1) if he will make it his policy to issue guidelines to police forces regarding the sale of road traffic video footage to private companies;
(2) when the traffic committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers is to consider the sale of road traffic videos to private companies;
(3) if he will discuss with the traffic committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers the use and disposal of road traffic video footage;
(4) what representations he has had from chief police officers regarding the use of this road traffic video footage;
(5) how the moneys received from the disposal of road traffic video footage can be utilised;
(6) by what criteria he decided that the release of police traffic videos is an operational matter for chief police officers.
§ Mr. Charles WardleGuidance is issued to chief officers of police on the disclosure of information in respect of criminal and civil proceedings. However, chief officers retain an absolute discretion, subject to the direction of a court, to disclose or provide other information from police records. The provision of road traffic video footage is similarly a matter for chief officers. I understand that none of the police forces concerned received money for supplying footage. My right hon. and learned Friend does not intend to issue guidelines on the matter nor does he plan to discuss it with the traffic committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers. That committee will be considering the issue at its next meeting on 11 May. I have not received any representations from chief officers about the matter.