An organisation which has demanded a £145 fee from two pawnbroker shops in York to register their closed circuit television (CCTV) systems is under investigation.

The demand takes the form of a fine-threatening "urgent notice", sent out by the organisation dubbed The Freedom of Information Bureau, along with a detailed form to fill in, and a colourful tri-fold leaflet.

Cheques, it says, should be made payable to "Registration Fees" and sent to CCTV Notifications Department, The Freedom of Information Bureau, PO Box 1167, Blackpool, Lancs.

In reality only some CCTV systems need to be registered with the Information Commissioner, and the cost is a mere £35.

A spokesman for the Information Commissioner's office in Cheshire said today: "This is a bogus company being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading, Trading Standards and Blackpool police.

"It has no power or authorisation to collect fees on our behalf."

Meanwhile, Diana Golding, chairman of RACY - Retailers Against Crime in York - has issued a warning to her 130 members to phone Trading Standards should they receive the same demands.

She said: "My members tend to have CCTV equipment and they must be aware of this so-called 'urgent notice'."

The alarm in York was first raised by Tim Jones, managing director of Coutts de Vere Systems Ltd, trading as money Spinner, in Blossom Street.

Mr Jones said the official looking documents were similar to those used in a bid to wring money out of businesses to register data protection.

"That caught me for £95 three years ago and it's not going to happen again."

He said: "It was sent to me as Coutts de Vere Systems, clearly plucked out of company registrations. It was a very realistic form, but I had already paid my £35 registration fee to the Information Commissioner using a standard order, but others might easily be fooled.

Mike Yates, of Surplus in Fishergate who operates York Pawnbrokers at the same address, said: "I immediately smelled a rat. The notice's threat that failure to notify CCTV being a criminal offence attracting fines of up to £10,000 didn't scare me for the good reason that I don't have CCTV. But others should be warned. It's very realistic." Matthew Boxall, of York Trading Standards, said: "Businesses are right to be sceptical of anything that comes out of the blue asking for money."

There was no legal requirement to register with the so-called Freedom of Information Bureau.

"Our advice is to contact the Information Commissioner directly for advice on whether your system is covered. The phone number is 01625 545740."

Those who do inquire will be told that the £35 registration fee is required if CCTV cameras operate by remote control, zoom or make individuals targets of scrutiny, as are door entry systems which keep doors closed to those with faces the watcher does not like the look of.

But fixed cameras and those which register real-time recordings need not be registered.

Updated: 10:51 Wednesday, March 30, 2005