Aggregate data on criminal activity, squatting, and / or damage in empty business properties

West Midlands Police did not have the information requested.

Dear West Midlands Police,

I have been referred to you by the Birmingham City Council.

In terms of the Freedom of Information Act of 2000, could you please provide me with the following information for each of the last five years (i.e. 2011 to 2015):

1. Total number of business premises in your local authority
2. Total number of empty business premises in your local authority
3. Total number of empty business premises affected by each of (as a direct consequence of their being empty):
a. Criminal activity
b. Squatting
c. Damage
4. Where possible, total value in GBP of the theft or damage to empty business premises by each of(as a direct consequence of their being empty):
a. Criminal activity
b. Squatting
c. Damage

If the value in GBP is not known, then please provide the balance of data requested.

While such data series are often published by local authorities, I have undertaken a thorough search of your website and have not found these. If they are available, as requested, then please - in terms of Section 21 of the act - could you provide a link to the page where the data are published, as well as guidance on the update frequency.

Please provide this as machine-readable as either a CSV or Microsoft Excel file, capable of re-use, and under terms of the Open Government Licence.

Yours faithfully,

Gavin Chait

Freedom of Information,

Please accept this as an acknowledgement of receipt of your e-mail by the
Freedom of Information Unit.
 
If your email is a valid request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act, your request will be dealt with within the legislative
deadline of 20 working days.  Should we be unable to meet this deadline
for any reason you will be notified as soon as possible.
 
If your request does not relate to Freedom of Information, your e-mail
will be forwarded to the relevant department and you will be notified
where this has been passed to.
 
If you require further information please contact 101 and ask for the
Freedom of information Unit.
 
You might find what you are looking for on our website:
[1]http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/
 
If you have information about any crime, you can contact us on the
non-emergency number: 101.
 
In an emergency, for example where life is in danger or a crime in
progress, call 999.

This email is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged
or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the
originator immediately. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or
alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. Views or opinions
expressed in this email do not necessarily represent those of West
Midlands Police. All West Midlands Police email activity is monitored for
virus, racist, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate activity. No
responsibility is accepted by West Midlands Police for any loss or damage
arising in any way from the receipt or use of this email.

References

Visible links
1. http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/

Freedom of Information,

Dear Mr Chait

 

 

 

FOI Request Reference: 003536/16

 

Thank you for your request for information, received 22/03/2016

 

REQUEST

 

In terms of the Freedom of Information Act of 2000, could you please
provide me with the following information for each of the last five years
(i.e. 2011 to 2015):

 

1. Total number of business premises in your local authority 2. Total
number of empty business premises in your local authority 3. Total number
of empty business premises affected by each of (as a direct consequence of
their being empty):

a. Criminal activity

b. Squatting

c. Damage

4. Where possible, total value in GBP of the theft or damage to empty
business premises by each of(as a direct consequence of their being
empty):

a. Criminal activity

b. Squatting

c. Damage

 

If the value in GBP is not known, then please provide the balance of data
requested.

 

RESPONSE

 

Our data are not organised in such a way as to allow us to provide this
information we do not have a location field ‘empty business premises’ on
our crime system and would have to search the MO notes of every crime
offence and even then it may not be recorded.

 

Please note that researching each individual case would exceed the
appropriate limit (FOIA, s.12 (1)).

 

Therefore, the cost of compliance with your request is above the amount to
which we are legally required to respond, i.e. the cost of locating and
retrieving the information  would exceed the appropriate costs limit under
section 12 of the Freedom of information Act 2000. For West Midlands
Police, the appropriate limit is set at £450, as prescribed by the Freedom
of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees)
Regulations 2004, S.I. 3244

 

A public authority which, in relation to any request for information, is
relying on a claim that section 12 or section 14 applies must, within the
time for complying with Section 1(1), give the applicant a notice stating
that fact. In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this
letter acts as a refusal notice.

 

I am unable to suggest any practical way in which your request may be
modified in order to satisfy your query or bring it within the 18 hours
stipulated by the Regulations. I am however willing to consider any
refinements that you are able to make to your request.

 

 

For further information and data on West Midlands Police see our
publication scheme and disclosure log

 

[1]http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/

 

Your attention is drawn to your right to request a re-examination of your
case under West Midlands Police review procedure, which can be found at:

 

[2]http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/revie...

 

Please note that such an appeal must be received within 20 working days of
the date of this correspondence. Any such request received after this time
will only be considered at the discretion of the FOI Unit.

 

If you require any further information, then please do not hesitate to
contact me.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

Susan Brown

Freedom of Information Unit

Tel: 101

ext: 801 6197

 

email. [3][email address]

Working hours 7:30am to 3:30pm Monday to Thursday

 

To report crime and anti-social behaviour which does not require an
emergency response please call 101. In an emergency call 999.

 

Website: [4]www.west-midlands.police.uk
Twitter: [5]www.twitter.com/wmpolice
Facebook: [6]www.facebook.com/westmidlandspolice
YouTube: [7]www.youtube.com/westmidlandspolice

Flickr: [8]www.flickr.com/westmidlandspolice

 

[9]View all our social network links

 

Our vision: Preventing crime, protecting the public and helping those in
need

 

This email is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged
or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the
originator immediately. Any unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or
alteration of this email is strictly forbidden. Views or opinions
expressed in this email do not necessarily represent those of West
Midlands Police. All West Midlands Police email activity is monitored for
virus, racist, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate activity. No
responsibility is accepted by West Midlands Police for any loss or damage
arising in any way from the receipt or use of this email.

References

Visible links
1. http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/
2. http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/revie...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://exchange.wmpad.local/owa/redir.a...
5. https://exchange.wmpad.local/owa/redir.a...
6. https://exchange.wmpad.local/owa/redir.a...
7. https://exchange.wmpad.local/owa/redir.a...
8. https://exchange.wmpad.local/owa/redir.a...
9. https://exchange.wmpad.local/owa/redir.a...