Miss Lisa Oliver

Information Services Officer

Information Governance Unit,

Woburn Road

Kempston, Bedford, MK43 9AX

Tel 01234 842355

Fax 01234 842133

Email [email address]

Our Ref: LNO/200 20 March 2009

Mr R Dewsbury

[email address]

Dear Mr Dewsbury,

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT Reference No F-2009-00200

I write in connection with your request for information received on 25^th February 2009. I note you seek access to the following information

1) How many people were arrested for soliciting prostitutes or kerb crawling by Bedfordshire police in each month of 2008.

2) Of those arrested in each month the number who were

a) released without charge

b) cautioned

c) charged

d) fined

e) If none of the above can be applied to each arrest I would like

to know how the crime was dealt with.

4) I would also like to know how much money has been allocated to

the force for the specific purpose of reducing prostitution.

I am required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act) to handle all requests in a manner that is blind to the identity of the requestor. Any information released in response to a request is regarded as being published, and therefore in the public domain without caveat.

Please see below the response to your request.

Searches revealed 108 crimes for `Soliciting or Importuning by a man', 95 were cautioned, 6 charged and the remainder no disposal showing.

From those charged:

3 were fined between £200 - £375

1 case was withdrawn

2 details not updated on system.

If first offences, we normally deal by letter to their home address stating facts about: law, sexual health, consequences of reoffending etc.  Also, offender is invited to the police station for a `voluntary' interview, where personal details are taken and they are reported for process.  The evidence is balanced, and if applicable they will be cautioned.  If they have previous convictions, they will be charged and sent to court.  It is rare we arrest them, unless other factors come into play e.g.: violence.

In terms of money spent it would be extremely difficult to ascertain as most of the expenditure would be included in general policing.

Copyright

Bedfordshire Police, in complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information will not breach the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the enclosed information will continue to be protected by law. Applications for the copyright owner's written permission to reproduce any part of the attached information should be addressed to Bedfordshire Police at the above address.

Complaint Rights

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of complaint.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Bedfordshire Police.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter please do not hesitate to contact me quoting the above reference number.

Yours sincerely,

Lisa Oliver

Information Services Officer