Homophobic hate crimes reported to police

Dear Mr Henderson

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: RFI 1610

I write in connection with your request for information which was dated
24^th October 2008 and received on 27^th October 2008.

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act). You will receive a response within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party. In some circumstances West Mercia Constabulary may be unable to
achieve this deadline. If this is likely you will be informed and given a
revised time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

There may be a fee payable for the retrieval, collation and provision of
the information you request. If this is the case you will be informed and
the 20 working day timescale will be suspended until we receive payment
from you. If you chose not to make payment then your request will remain
unanswered.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or telephone the Information Compliance Unit quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

Miss R Forrest

Deputy Information Compliance Manager

Information Compliance Unit

West Mercia Constabulary

PO Box 55

Hindlip

Worcester

WR3 8SP

01905 331545 / 331565

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Dear Mr Henderson

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: RFI 1610

I write in connection with your request for information which was dated
24^th October 2008 and received on 27^th October 2008. Please find below
the response to your request:

1. the total number of homophobic hate crimes reported to you in the last
calendar year

2. the total number of homophobic hate crimes reported to you in the last
three calendar years

REPLY: The total number of homophobic hate crimes recorded in the last
calendar year/3 calendar years are as follows:

2007 - 72

2006 - 88

2005 - 103

3. the total number of those hate crimes that were reported to the Crown
Prosecution Service in the last calendar year

4. the total number of those hate crimes that were reported to the Crown
Prosecution Service in the last three calendar years

REPLY: Please be advised that the information you have requested is not
available in a readily retrievable format, West Mercia Constabulary are
unable to provide information regarding the total number of homophobic
hate crimes that were reported to the Crown Prosecution Service. However,
we are able to provide the number of homophobic hate crimes that were
reported to the Crown Prosecution Service that subsequently went to
court. In the last calendar year/3 calendar years these were as follows:

2007 - 4

2006 - 20

2005 - 22

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by our
Safety and Justice Department is as accurate and comprehensive as possible

Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or telephone the Information Compliance Unit quoting the reference number
above.

Yours sincerely

Miss R Forrest

Deputy Information Compliance Manager

Information Compliance Unit

Information Management and Technology Department

West Mercia Constabulary

PO Box 55

Hindlip

Worcester

WR3 8SP

01905 331545 / 331565

West Mercia Constabulary 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 The Force Solicitor, West Mercia
Constabulary Headquarters, PO Box 55, Hindlip, Worcester, WR3 8SP.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require West Mercia Constabulary (WMC) to review
their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the person that dealt with your request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again -

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is to
telephone the person named at the end of your decision letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues and
assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
WMC made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information, you can lodge a complaint with WMC to have the
decision reviewed. WMC must be notified of your intention to complain
within 2 months of the date of its response to your Freedom of Information
request. Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

West Mercia Constabulary Headquarters

Information Management and Technology Department

Hindlip Hall

Hindlip

PO Box 55

Worcester

WR3 8SP

In all possible circumstances, WMC will aim to respond to your complaint
within 2 months.

The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with WMC if you are still dissatisfied with the
decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for a
decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Phone: 01625 545700

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