FOI Ring Doorbells (799-2023/24)

Request

I am conducting a research project that investigates footage captured on a Ring Doorbell Camera and request you assist with answering the following questions.
 
Q1. Can you identify what types of investigations most commonly involve a Smart Doorbell?
Q2. What are the main issues you encounter with the footage?
Q3. How do you deal with the problems you encounter?
Q4. Is there a particular software you use to help overcome these problems?

Response

Extent of Searches to Locate Information

Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police to locate relevant information. 

Decision

I am not obliged to provide you with a response to your request pursuant to Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please note that when one part of your request falls under Section 12, we are not obliged to review the rest of the questions and the whole request is therefore exempt.

Section 12(1) applies to your request as the cost of complying with your request is above the amount to which we are legally required to respond i.e. the cost of identifying and retrieving any relevant information exceeds the ‘appropriate level’ as stated in the Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.

Due to the nature of our recording systems the information requested, if held, is not in an easily retrievable format. Our data retrieval process relies on computer ran reports which gather information from specified fields within our crime recording systems. Whether or not doorbell camera footage is used in an investigation is not recorded within a specified field. In order to identify what types of investigations commonly use doorbell footage, it would be necessary to manually review all crimes within the timeframes requested. This would exceed the time limit allowed under the Act. 

Pursuant to Section 17(5) of the Freedom of Information Act this letter acts as a Refusal Notice.

Pursuant to Section 16 of the Act I am required to offer you advice and assistance with regarding to refining your request to within the ‘appropriate limit’ (time/cost limit). However, due to the information provided above I am unable to suggest how you may refine your request and still receive the information within the cost threshold.  If you wish to discuss this please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.