Taxi driver attacks

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Dear Ms Chapman

FOI Request Reference: 001481/16

Thank you for your request for information, received 02/02/2016.

REQUEST

Please could I have a breakdown in spreadsheet format of the following
information from 2010 - 2015:

     - The number of attacks on taxi drivers in Birmingham

     - Details of the type of attack (i.e. knife, gun, verbal, assault)

     - The time and date each attack occurred

     - The outcome: whether the attacker was prosecuted

RESPONSE

We are unable to provide a response within the cost limit set by the FOI
Act (s.12 (1)). Prosecution data is not routinely fed back into our crimes
systems. Therefore to provide this information we would have to manually
research the Police National Computer (PNC) for each person charged with
an offence. For the time period there were 158 charges recorded. An
estimate of each search on the PNC would be 7 – 15 minutes. This could
take anything from 18 - 39 hours. This would breach the cost threshold of
the FOI Act. However, please consult the remainder of the document to see
what can be provided within cost.

Please note that researching each individual case would exceed the
appropriate limit

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.

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. We could locate and extract,
within the cost limit, the following information:

From 2010 – 2015, the number of assaults on victims whose occupation is
recorded as ‘Taxi’ by offence type (assault occasion ABH, malicious
wounding etc), month and year the assault occurred and the outcome
(charge, caution, community resolution).

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 provide the information 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.

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,

Courtney Martin
Freedom of Information Unit

Corporate Communications

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ext: 801 6201

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emergency response please call 101. In an emergency call 999.

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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...
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