Freedom of Information Request: Child Pornography Searches and Convictions

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AdrianPaulBryanVince

Dear Merseyside Police,

Wednesday 19th April 2017

Dear Sirs

Freedom of Information Request

Please can you kindly provide myself with the following Information:

1. Between 2011 and 2015, how many Search Warrants have been carried out in regard to allegations, intelligence or tip-offs in regard to possession of online Child Pornography?

2. Of these Searches, how many found clear evidence of possession of online Child Pornography?

3. Of these, how many contained more than a handful, or significant numbers of, Category A and/or Category B images and/or videos?

4. Of those Convicted, how many were given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (S.H.P.O. Or the earlier titled S.O.P.O.)?

5. Of those Convicted, how many had previously been Convicted of Sexual Contact Crime(s) against Children?

6. Of those Convicted, how many were later Convicted of Sexual Contact Crime(s) against Children?

If there is a Charge for this Information, please kindly let me know.

Thanking you in advance of your response.

Regards

Yours faithfully,

AdrianPaulBryanVince

Freedom Of Information, Merseyside Police

Your email to the Merseyside Police Freedom of Information (FOI) in box is
acknowledged.

 

If it contains an initial (new) request under FOI it will be dealt with in
accordance with section 10 of the Act which means that you are entitled to
receive a response no later than 20 working days after the first working
day* on which your request is received.

 

Other arrangements may apply if a fees notice is issued or if the time
period is extended in order that public interest considerations of our
response may take place. Section 10 also allows public authorities to
apply variations to the normal 20 working day timescale in some limited
circumstances.

 

Due to the volume of e-mail correspondence and FOI applications received,
the Force regrets that individual acknowledgement e-mails will not be sent
even if specifically requested.

 

If the correspondence cannot be dealt with as FOI, it will be forwarded
internally and you will be advised of the location. Any related
communication must be direct to the identified location and not the FOI
e-mail address.

 

*The ‘working day’ is defined as any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday,
Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday under the
Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of the United Kingdom.
The first reckonable day is the working day after the working day of
receipt.

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AdrianPaulBryanVince

Dear Freedom Of Information,

Apologises for the lack of clarity in respect of one part of my FOI request.

I hereby clarify my FOI request as follows:

By "Sexual Contact Crimes" against Children, I mean Crimes such as Rape, Indecent Assault, Molestation of a Child or Children under 16, or Grooming of a Child or Children under 16 with evidenced or clear intent to commit Sexual Offences;

Furthermore, by "more than a handful" of Cat A or Cat B images, I mean at least 1% of the overall number of images, except where that 1% of images would be over 25 images (to wit, the total number of images was over 2,500);

The number of images for those under 1% and those over 1% would be very much appreciated, together with the percentage and associated numerical statistics for those with a moderate to very large total of overall images (to wit over 1,000 to potentially millions images.)

The more data the better, but I am conscious you have time limits and there would be a potential charge for a lot of information and research.

Of course, given sufficient statistics, I could work out the percentages for myself, but I will leave yourselves to decide whether or not you are willing to table all of the relevant numbers and percentages (I would suggest that an Excel table would work these out automatically).

Thanking you in advance.

Yours sincerely,

Adrian Paul Bryan-Vince

Freedom Of Information, Merseyside Police

Your email to the Merseyside Police Freedom of Information (FOI) in box is
acknowledged.

 

If it contains an initial (new) request under FOI it will be dealt with in
accordance with section 10 of the Act which means that you are entitled to
receive a response no later than 20 working days after the first working
day* on which your request is received.

 

Other arrangements may apply if a fees notice is issued or if the time
period is extended in order that public interest considerations of our
response may take place. Section 10 also allows public authorities to
apply variations to the normal 20 working day timescale in some limited
circumstances.

 

Due to the volume of e-mail correspondence and FOI applications received,
the Force regrets that individual acknowledgement e-mails will not be sent
even if specifically requested.

 

If the correspondence cannot be dealt with as FOI, it will be forwarded
internally and you will be advised of the location. Any related
communication must be direct to the identified location and not the FOI
e-mail address.

 

*The ‘working day’ is defined as any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday,
Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday under the
Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of the United Kingdom.
The first reckonable day is the working day after the working day of
receipt.

============================================================

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.

If you have received this email in error please notify the sender as soon
as possible.

This footnote confirms that all reasonable steps have been taken to
ensure that this email message has been swept for the presence of
computer viruses.

The views expressed in this communication may not necessarily be the
views of Merseyside Police.

All communications, including telephone calls and electronic messages to
and from Merseyside Police may be subject to monitoring and recording.

============================================================

Freedom Of Information, Merseyside Police

1 Attachment

Dear Applicant,

 

Reference No: DJ 2017- 448 MERPOL

 

I write in connection with your request for information received on
19/04/2017 concerning:

 

(Paraphrased)   Search warrant, child pornography and associated matters.

 

The cost of providing you with the information is above the amount to
which we are legally required to respond i.e. the cost of locating and
retrieving the information exceeds the ‘appropriate level’ as stated in
the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004.
It is estimated that it would cost take in excess of 18 hours work to
comply with your request, which equates to the cost limit. Please see the
response table for further information.

 

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts
as a Refusal Notice.

 

You may wish to consider resubmitting a refined application, having
considered the reason why the cost exemption is engaged, so that the new
application is within cost.

 

Response table - Section 12 cost exemption: Please see the response table
for further information as to why the cost exemption is engaged in this
case.

 

Information disclosed under the provisions of Section 16 of the Act is
also shown on the response table by way of assistance to you.

 

Complainant Rights:

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

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

 

 

D Jackson

Merseyside Police

Data Access Unit

F.O.I. Team

PO BOX 59

LIVERPOOL

L69 1JD

Fax: 0151 777 1677

E-mail: [Merseyside Police request email]

 

==========================================================

                       

Making a complaint or appeal about your Freedom of Information response

We accept that sometimes you may not agree with the decision we’ve made
about your Freedom of Information request. If this is the case there is an
internal complaints procedure that you should follow.

 

You should make your complaint in writing to:

 

Merseyside Police

Force Information Governance Manager

Police Headquarters (CSD)

PO Box 59

LIVERPOOL

L69 1JD

 

It should detail:

            What the original request was

            The individual reference number (stated above)

            The nature of the complaint

            Why you feel you should have received more information

 

Your complaint will be fully investigated and will be dealt with by a
staff member who was not involved in the original decision. We will write
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Any correspondence which challenges any exemption provision used or
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If you are dissatisfied with the results of your complaint you have the
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The Office of the Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

WILMSLOW

SK9 5AF

 

More information is available from the Information Commissioner's website

 

 

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This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.

If you have received this email in error please notify the sender as soon
as possible.

This footnote confirms that all reasonable steps have been taken to
ensure that this email message has been swept for the presence of
computer viruses.

The views expressed in this communication may not necessarily be the
views of Merseyside Police.

All communications, including telephone calls and electronic messages to
and from Merseyside Police may be subject to monitoring and recording.

============================================================

AdrianPaulBryanVince

Dear Freedom Of Information,

Thank you for your reply.

I will endeavour to simplify my FOI Requests in due course, once I have heard from more Police Forces.

Yours sincerely,

AdrianPaulBryanVince

Freedom Of Information, Merseyside Police

Your email to the Merseyside Police Freedom of Information (FOI) in box is
acknowledged.

 

If it contains an initial (new) request under FOI it will be dealt with in
accordance with section 10 of the Act which means that you are entitled to
receive a response no later than 20 working days after the first working
day* on which your request is received.

 

Other arrangements may apply if a fees notice is issued or if the time
period is extended in order that public interest considerations of our
response may take place. Section 10 also allows public authorities to
apply variations to the normal 20 working day timescale in some limited
circumstances.

 

Due to the volume of e-mail correspondence and FOI applications received,
the Force regrets that individual acknowledgement e-mails will not be sent
even if specifically requested.

 

If the correspondence cannot be dealt with as FOI, it will be forwarded
internally and you will be advised of the location. Any related
communication must be direct to the identified location and not the FOI
e-mail address.

 

*The ‘working day’ is defined as any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday,
Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday under the
Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of the United Kingdom.
The first reckonable day is the working day after the working day of
receipt.

============================================================

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.

If you have received this email in error please notify the sender as soon
as possible.

This footnote confirms that all reasonable steps have been taken to
ensure that this email message has been swept for the presence of
computer viruses.

The views expressed in this communication may not necessarily be the
views of Merseyside Police.

All communications, including telephone calls and electronic messages to
and from Merseyside Police may be subject to monitoring and recording.

============================================================

AdrianPaulBryanVince

Dear Sirs

Freedom of Information Request (Revised)

Please can you kindly provide myself with the following Data:

1. During the period of 2011 and 2015 inclusive, how many Search Warrants have been carried out in regard to Possession of Online Child Pornography or Online Child Exploitation?

2. Of these Searches, how many found clear evidence of Possession of Online Child Pornography?

3. Of these, how many contained more than 2% Category A and/or Category B images and/or videos?

4. Of those Convicted, how many were given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (S.H.P.O./S.O.P.O.)?

5. Of those Convicted, how many had previously been Convicted of Sexual Crime(s) against a Child or Children Under 16 (Rape, Indecent Assault or Grooming)?

6. Of those Convicted of Possession of Online Child Pornography, how many were later Convicted of Sexual Crime(s) against a Child or Children Under 16 (Rape, Indecent Assault or Grooming)?

If possible, could you please also create a table the relevant numbers and percentages. I suggest an Excel table would work these out automatically.

The more data the better, but I am conscious you have time limits and there would be a potential charge for a lot of information and research. If there is likely to be a Partial Charge for this Information, to wit, any sum over £450, please kindly let me know.

Thanking you in advance of your provision of the required Data.

Regards

Yours Sincerely

Adrian Paul Bryan-Vince

Freedom Of Information, Merseyside Police

Your email to the Merseyside Police Freedom of Information (FOI) in box is
acknowledged.

 

If it contains an initial (new) request under FOI it will be dealt with in
accordance with section 10 of the Act which means that you are entitled to
receive a response no later than 20 working days after the first working
day* on which your request is received.

 

Other arrangements may apply if a fees notice is issued or if the time
period is extended in order that public interest considerations of our
response may take place. Section 10 also allows public authorities to
apply variations to the normal 20 working day timescale in some limited
circumstances.

 

Due to the volume of e-mail correspondence and FOI applications received,
the Force regrets that individual acknowledgement e-mails will not be sent
even if specifically requested.

 

If the correspondence cannot be dealt with as FOI, it will be forwarded
internally and you will be advised of the location. Any related
communication must be direct to the identified location and not the FOI
e-mail address.

 

*The ‘working day’ is defined as any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday,
Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday under the
Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of the United Kingdom.
The first reckonable day is the working day after the working day of
receipt.

============================================================

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.

If you have received this email in error please notify the sender as soon
as possible.

This footnote confirms that all reasonable steps have been taken to
ensure that this email message has been swept for the presence of
computer viruses.

The views expressed in this communication may not necessarily be the
views of Merseyside Police.

All communications, including telephone calls and electronic messages to
and from Merseyside Police may be subject to monitoring and recording.

============================================================

AdrianPaulBryanVince

Dear Freedom Of Information,

As a special exception, I am offering to Reduce the Data Period to 2014/2015, which should reduce the Research by around 40%; I have also simplifed some of my bulleted Requests, so overall I believe I have reduced my FOI Request by between 50% - 60%.

I have also offered to make a partial contribution to the supplying of Data beyond a certain amount. However, I am on Disability Benefits, so that would not be easy to come by. I also note that the sum of £450 is simply a Guideline Figure and there can be exceptions made to this.

Furthermore, I would point out that the Data gained by this Study would be hugely beneficial to various Agencies, including the Police, Social Services, Probation and Safeguarding Charities, etc.

Yours sincerely,

AdrianPaulBryanVince

Freedom Of Information, Merseyside Police

Your email to the Merseyside Police Freedom of Information (FOI) in box is
acknowledged.

 

If it contains an initial (new) request under FOI it will be dealt with in
accordance with section 10 of the Act which means that you are entitled to
receive a response no later than 20 working days after the first working
day* on which your request is received.

 

Other arrangements may apply if a fees notice is issued or if the time
period is extended in order that public interest considerations of our
response may take place. Section 10 also allows public authorities to
apply variations to the normal 20 working day timescale in some limited
circumstances.

 

Due to the volume of e-mail correspondence and FOI applications received,
the Force regrets that individual acknowledgement e-mails will not be sent
even if specifically requested.

 

If the correspondence cannot be dealt with as FOI, it will be forwarded
internally and you will be advised of the location. Any related
communication must be direct to the identified location and not the FOI
e-mail address.

 

*The ‘working day’ is defined as any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday,
Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday under the
Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of the United Kingdom.
The first reckonable day is the working day after the working day of
receipt.

============================================================

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.

If you have received this email in error please notify the sender as soon
as possible.

This footnote confirms that all reasonable steps have been taken to
ensure that this email message has been swept for the presence of
computer viruses.

The views expressed in this communication may not necessarily be the
views of Merseyside Police.

All communications, including telephone calls and electronic messages to
and from Merseyside Police may be subject to monitoring and recording.

============================================================

AdrianPaulBryanVince

Dear Freedom Of Information,

It is now 1st October 2017 and you have still not Complied with my FOI Request from 19th April 2017!

Yours sincerely,

AdrianPaulBryanVince

Freedom Of Information, Merseyside Police

Your email to the Merseyside Police Freedom of Information (FOI) in box is
acknowledged.

 

If it contains an initial (new) request under FOI it will be dealt with in
accordance with section 10 of the Act which means that you are entitled to
receive a response no later than 20 working days after the first working
day* on which your request is received.

 

Other arrangements may apply if a fees notice is issued or if the time
period is extended in order that public interest considerations of our
response may take place. Section 10 also allows public authorities to
apply variations to the normal 20 working day timescale in some limited
circumstances.

 

Due to the volume of e-mail correspondence and FOI applications received,
the Force regrets that individual acknowledgement e-mails will not be sent
even if specifically requested.

 

If the correspondence cannot be dealt with as FOI, it will be forwarded
internally and you will be advised of the location. Any related
communication must be direct to the identified location and not the FOI
e-mail address.

 

*The ‘working day’ is defined as any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday,
Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday under the
Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of the United Kingdom.
The first reckonable day is the working day after the working day of
receipt.

============================================================

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.

If you have received this email in error please notify the sender as soon
as possible.

This footnote confirms that all reasonable steps have been taken to
ensure that this email message has been swept for the presence of
computer viruses.

The views expressed in this communication may not necessarily be the
views of Merseyside Police.

All communications, including telephone calls and electronic messages to
and from Merseyside Police may be subject to monitoring and recording.

============================================================

Freedom Of Information, Merseyside Police

Dear Mr. Vince,

I refer to your below e-mail.

The WDTK.com entry shows,

"AdrianPaulBryanVince made this Freedom of Information request to Merseyside Police

We're waiting for AdrianPaulBryanVince to read a recent response and update the status".

I can trace your e-mail which was the immediate response to the above cost exemption response to you.

I have noted that there are two further e-mails which have received automatic receipts.

As the original application had been answered that file was closed and any new application would be allocated a new number. I have searched the original folder and the FOI system and cannot trace the two additional e-mails. I am unable to state what has happened to the e-mails and due to the length of time since they were sent I doubt the IT Department would be able to trace them.

I note that the e-mails involve a new application and then it is changed by the second e-mail. From the dates they are both clearly out of time for response.

Can I therefore suggest that you make a new application, not under the number DJ 2017-448 seeking the information that you are interested in and the Force will deal with that application.

I regret that I cannot be any other assistance to you at this time.

D. Jackson
Disclosure Analyst
Data Access Unit
Merseyside Police
PO Box 59
LIVERPOOL
L69 1JD
Fax 0151 777 1677r