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Online dating crimes

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Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

Under the freedom of information act, I am contacting all police forces throughout England for some crime statistics related to online dating.

Please can you provide me with the following information;

For the years 2019 & 2020 currently;

Can you provide me with how many crimes were reported in relation to online dating, specifically when the following websites were mentioned; OkCupid, Zoosk, badoo, Plenty of Fish, bumble.

1. Please can you tell me what Crime was reported and the date they were reported.

2. What the crime report said with a redacted summary (if you can).

3. What was the outcome of the investigation.

Yours faithfully,

Ms S Culler

Cyclops on behalf of Jagroop Kalsi, Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

1 Attachment

 

      Official Sensitive

 

 

Information Rights Unit
PO Box 313
Sidcup
DA15 0HH

 

Email:  [1][email address

 

www.met.police.uk

 

Your ref: 
Our ref: 01/FOI/20/015174

 

22/07/2020

 

 

 
 

 

 

Dear Ms S Culler

 

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 01/FOI/20/015174

 

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 22/07/2020. I note you seek
access to the following information:

 

Under the freedom of information act, I am contacting all police forces
throughout England for some crime statistics related to online dating.

Please can you provide me with the following information;

For the years 2019 & 2020 currently;

Can you provide me with how many crimes were reported in relation to
online dating, specifically when the following websites were mentioned;
OkCupid, Zoosk, badoo, Plenty of Fish, bumble.

1. Please can you tell me what Crime was reported and the date they were
reported.

2. What the crime report said with a redacted summary (if you can).

3. What was the outcome of the investigation.

 

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.

 

Although every effort will be made to ensure a response is provided within
statutory deadlines, due to current circumstances delays may be
unavoidable. We apologise for any inconvenience and will endeavour to
process your request as quickly as is practicable.

 

If you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please contact
us at [the Met request email], quoting the reference number above. Should your
enquiry relate to the logging or allocations process we will be able to
assist you directly and where your enquiry relates to other matters (such
as the status of the request) we will be able to pass on a message and/or
advise you of the relevant contact details. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Jag Kalsi

 

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 the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

 

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

 

Complaint

 

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

 

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

 

FOI Complaint

Information Rights Unit

PO Box 313

Sidcup

DA15 0HH

[2][the Met request email] 

 

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.

 

The Information Commissioner

 

After lodging a complaint with the MPS 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.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, write to or
phone:

 

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Phone: 0303 123 1113

 

 

      Official Sensitive

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[the Met request email]

Dear Cyclops on behalf of Jagroop Kalsi,

Please see a slightly edited FOI request (only very slight changes)

Under the freedom of information act, I am contacting all police forces throughout England for some crime statistics related to online dating.

Please can you provide me with the following information;

For the years 2019 & 2020 currently;

Can you provide me with how many crimes were reported in relation to online dating, specifically when the following websites were mentioned; OkCupid, Zoosk, badoo, Plenty of Fish, bumble.

1. Please can you tell me what Crime was reported and the date it was reported? (DD/MM/YYYY)

2. What the crime report said with a redacted summary explaining what has occurred.

3. What was the outcome of the investigation, and if any are under investigation still, where in the process is it?

Yours faithfully,

Ms S Culler

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Madam,

Amendments have now been made to your request.

Kind regards,

Jag Kalsi
IRU Triage Team
Data Governance
Data Office
Metropolitan Police Service

Email: [email address]
Core location: New Peel House, Hendon.

show quoted sections

Cyclops on behalf of Andrea Duncan, Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

2 Attachments

Letterhead

 

      Official Sensitive

 

Information Rights Unit
PO Box 313
Sidcup
DA15 0HH

 

Email: [1][the Met request email]

 

[2]www.met.police.uk

 

Your ref: 
Our ref: 01/FOI/20/015174

 

18/08/2020

 

 

 
 

 

Dear Ms Culler

 

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 01/FOI/20/015174

 

Please see the attached in respect of your Freedom of Information request
referenced above.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

A Duncan

 

 

      Official Sensitive

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[the Met request email]
2. http://www.met.police.uk/

Dear Cyclops on behalf of Andrea Duncan,

Many thanks for your reply.

May I ask in this case, that you just do the request for this financial year (from April, last 4 months).

If it’s still too much to search for specific websites, then just produce a report for what ever has been logged?

With what crime was reported? And the outcome of the investigations?

Yours sincerely,

S Culler

Dear Cyclops on behalf of Andrea Duncan,

Good morning,

Thank you for your reply.

Could I please ask you to do it from this financial year then up until now?

Yours sincerely,

S Culler

Cyclops on behalf of Rozmarie Loizou, Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

1 Attachment

Letterhead

 

      Official Sensitive

 

Information Rights Unit
PO Box 313
Sidcup
DA15 0HH

 

Email: [1][the Met request email]

 

[2]www.met.police.uk

 

Your ref: 
Our ref: 01/FOI/20/015757

 

24/08/2020

 

 

 
 

 

Dear S Culler

 

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 01/FOI/20/015757

 

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 18/08/2020.  I note you seek
access to the following information:

 

"May I ask in this case, that you just do the request for this financial
year (from April, last 4 months). 

If it’s still too much to search for specific websites, then just produce
a report for what ever has been logged? 

With what crime was reported? And the outcome of the investigations?"

 

This is to inform you that the MPS are unable to proceed with your request
as we require further information from you.  

 

* Please clarify if you would like the searches to refer to online
dating data or ‘MR online/internet enabled crimes’.  

 

After receiving your reply, your request will then be considered and you
will receive a response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days.

 

However, if the requested additional information has not been received
by 22/09/2020, I will assume you no longer wish to proceed with this
request and will treat it as withdrawn.

 

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me using the email or postal addresses at the top of this
document, quoting the reference number for this request.

Yours sincerely,

 

 

R. Loizou

 

 

 

LEGAL ANNEX

 

Section 1(3) provides:

 

(3)       Where a public authority 

 

(a) reasonably requires further information in order to identify and
locate the information requested, and

 

(b) has information the applicant of that requirement, the authority is
not obligated to comply with subsection (1) unless it is supplied that
further information

 

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 the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

 

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

 

Complaint

 

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

 

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

 

FOI Complaint

Information Rights Unit

PO Box 313

Sidcup

DA15 0HH

[3][the Met request email] 

 

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.

 

The Information Commissioner

 

After lodging a complaint with the MPS 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.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, write to or
phone:

 

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Phone: 0303 123 1113

 

 

      Official Sensitive

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[the Met request email]
2. http://www.met.police.uk/
3. mailto:[the Met request email]

Dear Cyclops on behalf of Rozmarie Loizou,

What is the difference between the 2?

What info would ‘online dating data’ bring up?

Can you search for specific keywords and report on those?

Yours sincerely,

S Culler

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear S Cullen,

Further to your message, please find the following advice and assistance:

"What is the difference between the 2?"
In April 2015, the Home Office introduced a requirement for police services to provide information about crimes that were committed or originated online.
The MPS are providing this data through the application of a new CRIS crime report flag - ‘MR’ . The term ‘online/internet enabled crimes’ is merely a short description of the flag.
It is applied when, on the balance of probability, an offence was committed, in full or part, through a computer, computer network or other computer-enabled device.

"What info would ‘online dating data’ bring up? Can you search for specific keywords and report on those?"
It remains the case that a member of police staff would still be required to read each record returned with the flag ‘MR’ to determine if it relates to the criteria you mention (online dating data).

Therefore, can you please clarify that you would like the MPS to run a search for:
all reported crimes with the flag ‘MR’ for the period April – July 2020. This should indicate the Home Office Category of crime and any Outcome.

With kind regards,

R. Loizou

show quoted sections

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

Thank you for your reply.

If you search for MR then, could you do redacted summarises for the crime logs at all? Or would there be too many?

Also, the outcome of the crime report and how Kant are still under investigation.

Yours faithfully,

S Culler

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear S Culler,

Thank you for your email.

The MPS is unable to advise if there would be too many summaries, as this will not be known until our statistical team run the enquiry, after your request is clarified.

Can you please clarify that you are requesting the following information. Only once clarified, can the case commence:

"I would like all reported crimes with the flag ‘MR’ for the period April – July 2020.

I would like redacted summaries for all the crimes returned.

I would like the Outcome of the crime report and how many are still under investigation."

With kind regards,

R. Loizou

show quoted sections

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are S Culler please sign in and let everyone know.