Dear Mr Walker,

SUBJECT: Freedom of Information Request

Thank you for your email of the 31^st March, 2010, in which you asked for answers to questions 2, 4 and 5 (as outlined below) from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ):

1 - What was the total number of asylum seekers officially recorded as arriving in the UK between January and December 2006?

2 - What was the total number of people in part one, who were subsequently arrested or charged with offences of rape or serious sexual assault?

3 - What was the total number of asylum seekers officially recorded as arriving in the UK between January and December 2007?

4 - What was the total number of people in part three, who were subsequently arrested or charged with offences of rape or serious sexual assault?

5 - Can the Home Office confirm that the figures quoted in parts one to four are complete and include all instances between the dates given?

I can confirm that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) does not hold any information relating to your request.

It may be helpful if I explain that your initial request was processed by the UK Border Agency, following an internal transfer from the Home Office. Whilst the MoJ does hold information regarding convictions, it does not hold information regarding arrests and charges. This information falls within the remit of the Home Office and local police authorities. As such, you may wish to contact them as they might hold the information you are seeking.

You can write to the Home Office at the following address:

[email address]

Please mark your correspondence FOIA.

Alternatively, a list of local police authorities can be found at the following address:

http://www.apa.police.uk/APA/About+Police+Authorities/National+Map/

I am sorry that, on this occasion, I cannot be of any further assistance.

As part of our obligations under the FOIA, the Ministry of Justice has an independent review process. If you are dissatisfied with this decision, you may write to request an internal review. The internal review will be carried out by someone who did not make the original decision, and they will re-assess how the Department handled the original request.

If you wish to request an internal review, please write or send an email to the Data Access and Compliance Unit within two months of the date of this letter, at the following address:

Data Access and Compliance Unit

Information Directorate

Ministry of Justice

6^th Floor, Zone B

Post point 6.25

102 Petty France

London

SW1H 9AJ

e-mail: [email address]

If you remain dissatisfied after an internal review decision, you have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner's Office under Section 50 of the FOIA. You can contact the Information Commissioner's Office at the following address:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Internet: https://www.ico.gov.uk/Global/contact_us.aspx

Yours sincerely,

Data Access and Compliance Unit