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Dear Ms Morgan

FOI Request Reference: 18852/18

Thank you for your request for information, received 24/10/2018.

REQUEST

Can you please provide how many reports of sex assaults there have been on
buses for the years:

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

How many of these resulted in arrests/convictions?

Can you detail the type of offence (e.g. rape/indecent assault)?

Can you separate the offences according to the age/sex of the victim?

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:

The number of recorded sexual offences where the location field specifies
‘bus’ for the calendar years 2014 – 2018 (up until 31^st October) broken
down by offence, age and sex of the victim and the number of offences with
an outcome of charge.

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 we are unable to provide conviction data as court
information is not routinely fed back into our systems. Therefore,
researching each individual case would exceed the appropriate limit (FOIA,
s.12).

The 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

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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

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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...