FOI outcomes assigned to domestic-abuse related offences

The request was partially successful.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I would like to receive information regarding outcomes assigned to domestic-abuse related offences recorded in the year ending March 2018 for your police force.

Specifically, I would like to know:

1 – The total number of domestic-abuse related offences recorded by the force in the year ending March 31, 2018 (2017-18)

2 – The outcome of domestic-abuse related offences in the year ending March 31, 2018 (2017-18), listed by type/group in these categories:

- Charged/summonsed - (outcome number 1)
- Out-of-court (formal and informal) - (outcome numbers 2, 3, 6, 7, 8)
- Evidential difficulties (suspect identified; victim supports action) – (outcome number 15)
- Evidential difficulties (victim does not support action) – (outcome numbers 14, 16)
- Investigation complete – no suspect identified (outcome 18)
- Other – (outcome numbers 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 20, 21)
- Offences not yet assigned an outcome

Please give the figures as a total number and a percentage. For example:

2017-2018 Total domestic abuse-related offences: 1,000
OUTCOME
Charged/summonsed: 150 (15%)
Out of court (formal and informal): 20 (2%)
Evidential difficulties (suspect identified; victim supports action): 220 (22%)
Evidential difficulties (victim does not support action): 480 (48%)
Investigation complete – no suspect identified: 20 (2%)
Other – 40 (4%)
Offences not yet assigned an outcome 60 (6%)

I would like to receive this information in MS Excel format.

If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that under the Act you are required to advise and assist requesters. If any of this information is already in the public domain, please can you direct me to it, with page references and URLs if necessary.

I understand that you are required to respond to my request within the 20 working days after you receive this letter. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request.

Yours faithfully,
Emma Youle

Freedom of Information,

Please accept this as an acknowledgement of receipt of your e-mail by the
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References

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Freedom of Information,

Dear Ms Youle,

 

Thank you for your request for information.

 

I note that we have received 3 requests from you dated 27^th November in
relation to domestic abuse.

We aim to provide data where asked, however, sending multiple/overlapping
requests can place an administrative burden on the force to process,
locate and retrieve the data. It is important to note that requests of the
same/similar nature can be aggregated for cost purposes as well as
considering the burden. Therefore, we have decided to combine all 3
requests on this occasion.

 

Your request is being considered and we will endeavour to provide a
response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days from the date
of your latest request, as defined by the Act, subject to the application
of any statutory exemptions.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Justine Barrett

Disclosure Officer  

Freedom of Information Unit  

West Midlands Police

 

Tel: 101 ext 801 2068

 

Contact us on 999 in an emergency or for all other matters please
visit WMPolice Online

Sign-up for neighbourhood policing alerts at www.wmnow.co.uk

Follow us on social media

twitter.com/wmpolice

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View all of our social media links

 

Preventing crime, protecting the public and helping those in need.

show quoted sections

Dear Freedom of Information,

Thanks for letting me know. I look forward to receiving a response.

Yours sincerely,
Emma Youle

Freedom of Information,

Dear Ms Youle

 

FOI Request Reference: 22186/18

 

Thank you for your request for information, received 27/11/2018. As
advised on 03/12/2018 your requests have been aggregated.

 

REQUEST

 

1 – The total number of domestic-abuse related offences recorded by the
force in the year ending March 31, 2018 (2017-18)

 

2 – The outcome of domestic-abuse related offences in the year ending
March 31, 2018 (2017-18), listed by type/group in these categories:

 

-Charged/summonsed - (outcome number 1)

-Out-of-court (formal and informal) - (outcome numbers 2, 3, 6, 7, 8)
-Evidential difficulties (suspect identified; victim supports action) –
(outcome number 15) -Evidential difficulties (victim does not support
action) – (outcome numbers 14, 16) -Investigation complete – no suspect
identified (outcome 18) -Other – (outcome numbers 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
17, 20, 21) -Offences not yet assigned an outcome

 

Please give the figures as a total number and a percentage. For example:

 

2017-2018 Total domestic abuse-related offences: 1,000 OUTCOME

Charged/summonsed: 150 (15%)

Out of court (formal and informal): 20 (2%) Evidential difficulties
(suspect identified; victim supports action): 220 (22%) Evidential
difficulties (victim does not support action): 480 (48%) Investigation
complete – no suspect identified: 20 (2%) Other – 40 (4%) Offences not yet
assigned an outcome 60 (6%)

 

I would like to receive information regarding offences recorded as
domestic homicides by the police force from 2014-15 to 2016-17 (i.e.
2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17).

 

Specifically, I would like to know:

 

3 – How many domestic homicide offences have been recorded by the police
force from 2014-15 to 2016-17?

 

4 – In each of these domestic homicide offences, was there one or more
previous calls to police flagged with a domestic violence marker?

 

For example:

 

2014-15 to 2016-17

Total domestic homicide offences: 10

Domestic homicide offences with previous DV flagged call: 7

 

5 – Total number of domestic abuse-related offences recorded by the force
in 2017-18

 

6 – Total number of domestic abuse-related offences recorded by the force
in 2017-18 that resulted in arrests or charges/summons

 

7 – Total number of domestic abuse-related offences recorded by the force
in 2017-18 that resulted in arrests or charges/summons that also had a
previous logged call for assistance with a DV marker recorded  

 

For example:

2017-18

Total domestic abuse-related offences: 1,000 Total domestic abuse-related
offences that resulted in arrests or charges/summons: 150 Total domestic
abuse-related offences that resulted in arrests or charges/summons with
previous logged call with DV marker: 75

 

RESPONSE

 

Our data are not organised in such a way as to allow us to provide this
information within the appropriate (cost) limit within the Freedom of
Information (FOI) Act (see ‘Reason for Decision’ below).

 

However rather than refusing your request outright at this stage, I would
like to explore with you how West Midlands Police may best assist you to
request relevant information which we hold. Within the cost limit we could
conduct the following searches:

 

1 – The total number of domestic-abuse related offences recorded by the
force in the year ending March 31, 2018 (2017-18)

 

2 – The outcome of domestic-abuse related offences in the year ending
March 31, 2018 (2017-18)

    

3 – How many domestic homicide offences have been recorded by the police
force from 2014-15 to 2016-17?

 

Please note that any located information might be subject to the
application of exemptions under the Act.

 

To enable us to proceed with your request I would be grateful if you could
confirm whether you wish us to undertake the search outlined above. After
receiving your reply, your request will be considered and you will receive
a response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days, as defined
by the Act, subject to the application of any statutory exemptions. If you
chose not to respond then your request will remain unanswered.

 

REASON FOR DECISION

 

Please note that researching each individual case would require a manual
examination of records. Such a search would exceed the appropriate limit
(FOIA, s.12).

 

This means that the cost of compliance with the whole of 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(1) of the FOI 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.

 

Further information on section 12 of FOI is available here:

 

https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-co...

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

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

 

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

 

RIGHT OF APPEAL

 

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 40 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,

 

Justine Barrett

Disclosure Officer  

Freedom of Information Unit  

West Midlands Police

 

Tel: 101 ext 801 2068

 

Contact us on 999 in an emergency or for all other matters please
visit [3]WMPolice Online

Sign-up for neighbourhood policing alerts at [4]www.wmnow.co.uk

Follow us on social media

[5]twitter.com/wmpolice

[6]www.facebook.com/westmidlandspolice

[7]www.youtube.com/westmidlandspolice

[8]View all of our social media links

 

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. https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/
4. https://www.wmnow.co.uk/
5. https://twitter.com/wmpolice
6. https://www.facebook.com/westmidlandspol...
7. https://www.youtube.com/westmidlandspolice
8. https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/cont...