Theft figures

The request was partially successful.

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

I'd like to make a Freedom of Information request for the information below:

1. How many reports of shoplifting did you receive in 2010?

2. How many reports of petrol stations drive-offs (bilking) did you receive in 2010?

Yours faithfully,

Mike Frier

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr. Frier

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2011010002930
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 19/01/2011. I note you seek
access to the following information:

* How many reports of shoplifting did you receive in 2010?
* How many reports of petrol stations drive-offs (bilking) did you
receive in 2010?

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,
subject to the information not being exempt or containing a reference
to a third party. In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to
achieve this deadline. If this is likely you will be informed and
given a revised time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your
right of complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
write or contact Shannon Aldridge on telephone number 020 7161 3527
quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Shannon Aldridge
Quality and Assurance Advisor
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 and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your
request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again ***

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is
to telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your
decision letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues
and assist with any problems.

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
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

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.informationcommissioner.gov.uk. Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

The Metropolitan Police Service is here for London - on the streets and in
your community, working with you to make our city safer.

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system. To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law. Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents. The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). The MPS has a
strict staff conduct policy. Any email that causes you concern should be
reported via the Contacts section on the official MPS Website at
[1]www.met.police.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.met.police.uk/

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Frier

Freedom of Information Act Request Reference No: 2011010002930
I write in connection with your request for information dated 19/01/2011
which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 19/01/2011.
I note you seek access to the following information:

** 1. How many reports of shoplifting did you receive in 2010? 2.
How many reports of petrol stations drive-offs (bilking) did you receive
in 2010?

This is to update and inform you of the status of your request and to
inform you that I cannot identify any specific information that will
satisfy your request in part, covering the making off without payment in
petrol stations offence counts, based on the details you have provided.

Shoplifting counts for 2010 - I plan to exempt this data in any final
reply, by virtue of the fact that this data has been published by this
police service, and can be accessed from the borough tables (excel format)
at the attached location on the MPS internet site. The shoplifting offence
count can be found as an offence type within the theft and handling count,
in column X.

http://maps.met.police.uk/tables.htm

Petrol Station drive off offences for 2010 - Within this police service
most crime is recorded based on Home Office offence types. A petrol
station drive off would likely be recorded as an offence of "making off
without payment". Other types of non payment could also be recorded with
the same offence, for example decamping from a taxi or leaving a
restaurant without paying. Our research has found that no makers or flags
have been created to monitor making off without payment offences that
involve leaving a petrol station without payment. Given that many
thousands of offences of this type were recorded in 2010, it would not be
possible to perform a manual check of these records to create such a
count, within cost.

However, our research has found two possible alternative counts, which we
could supply within cost:-

1) A count of all making off without payment offences recorded in 2010.

2) A count of making off without payment offences, with a venue code
relating to a petrol station. This would include making off without
payment offences at these venues that would not involve not paying for
fuel, for example, not paying for refreshments in a coffee bar area in a
service station shop.

Please let me know, if any of these datasets would be suitable as
alternative data for your research.

After receiving your reply, your request will then be considered and you
will receive the information requested within the statutory timescale of
20 working days, subject to the information not being exempt or containing
a reference to a third party.

However, if the requested additional information has not been received by
20/04/2011, I will assume you no longer wish to proceed with this request
and will treat it as withdrawn.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

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

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Kenneth Shuttlewood on telephone number 0207 161 3131 quoting
the reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

Kenneth Shuttlewood

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 and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again ***

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is to
telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your decision
letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues and
assist with any problems.

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
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

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.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700Case reference: 2011010002930

The Metropolitan Police Service is here for London - on the streets and in
your community, working with you to make our city safer.

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system. To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law. Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents. The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). The MPS has a
strict staff conduct policy. Any email that causes you concern should be
reported via the Contacts section on the official MPS Website at
[1]www.met.police.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.met.police.uk/

Dear Kenneth,

Could you please supply a count of making off without payment offences, with a venue code relating to a petrol station. This would include making off without
payment offences at these venues that would not involve not paying for fuel, for example, not paying for refreshments in a coffee bar area in a
service station shop.

Yours faithfully,

Mike Frier

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear My Frier,

No problem - I will arrange for the production of these counts.

Kind regards

Ken Shuttlewood

show quoted sections

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Frier

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2011010002930

I write in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 19/01/2011. I note
you seek access to the following information:

** 1. How many reports of shoplifting did you receive in 2010? 2.
How many reports of petrol stations drive-offs (bilking) did you receive
in 2010?

EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
at the performance information helpdesk.

RESULT OF SEARCHES

The searches located information relevant to your request.

DECISION

Shoplifting offence counts

As per my earlier email the information you have requested on shoplifting
has been published and is available from the MPS Webite. It can be found
in the "borough tables (excel format) at the attached link.

http://maps.met.police.uk/tables.htm

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act
2000 (the Act) I have decided to refuse access to the information you have
requested on shoplifting, as this data is available is reasonably
accessible.

REASON FOR DECISION

Section 17 of the Act provides:

(1) A public authority which, in relation to any request for
information, is to any extent relying on a claim that any provision in
part II relating to the duty to confirm or deny is relevant to the request
or on a claim that information is exempt information must, within the time
for complying with section 1(1), give the applicant a notice which-

(a) states the fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question, and
(c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption
applies.

Section 21 of the Act provides:

(1) Information which is reasonably accessible to the application
otherwise than under section 1 is exempt information.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), information which is held
by a public authority and does not fall within subsection (2)(b) is not to
be regarded as reasonably accessible to the applicant merely because the
information is available from the public authority itself on request,
unless the information is made available in accordance with the
authority***s publication scheme and any payment required is specified in,
or determined in accordance with, the scheme.

Making off without payment from a petrol station

As requested, a count of offences recorded as making off without payment
with a venue code of petrol station was produced for 2010.

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find attached information pursuant to your request above.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

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

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Kenneth Shuttlewood on telephone number 0207 161 3131 quoting
the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Kenneth Shuttlewood

In complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information, the
Metropolitan Police Service will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the
enclosed information will continue to be protected by law. Applications
for the copyright owner's written permission to reproduce any part of the
attached information should be addressed to MPS Directorate of Legal
Services, 1st Floor (Victoria Block), New Scotland Yard, Victoria, London,
SW1H 0BG.
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 and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again ***

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is to
telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your decision
letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues and
assist with any problems.

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
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

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.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700Case reference: 2011010002930

The Metropolitan Police Service is here for London - on the streets and in
your community, working with you to make our city safer.

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system. To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law. Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents. The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).