FOI 261701
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 261701
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 10th July 2023. Please find below the response to your request:
- What are the circumstances in which a crime log is completed and what is the form and process
- What are the circumstances in which a crime report is made and by whom
- What are the expectations on officers or police staff to complete these
- What does 'no crimed' mean ?
Are there recorded protocols in relation to these practices and categories and if so could you please provide them
Reply
- What are the circumstances in which a crime log is completed and what is the form and process
An incident log is recorded where the call handler takes the call and logs the incident on to the computer system, the Control Room (OCC) would then assess the level of risk and grade the call accordingly to ensure the report attracts the right level of response by officers.
If a crime is identified then a record will be added onto West Mercia’s crime recording system for incidents and crimes which may or may not need some level of investigation. The circumstance when this would be done is when the threshold if met to record a crime/incident as outlined in the Home Office Counting Rules and the National Crime Recording Standards.
- What are the circumstances in which a crime report is made and by whom
As answered in question 1 if a crime is reported and needs recording the process is followed to record a crime on the crime recording system.
- What are the expectations on officers or police staff to complete these
All reports which amount of a crime or a recordable incident, officers and staff are expected to comply with Home Office Counting Rules within 24 hours but ideally by the end of their current tour of duty
- What does 'no crimed' mean ?
“no crimed” means the crime report which has been entered on to the crime recording system needs to be cancelled so it may have been a crime which has been transferred out to another force, created in error, it’s a duplication of a current existing crime report on the system or it was originally recorded in good faith but there is additional verifiable information that the crime did not happen or it was due to self defence.
Are there recorded protocols in relation to these practices and categories and if so could you please provide them
The protocols are recorded within the Home Office Counting Rules which is available to everyone on the internet for members of the public to review. This can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/counting-rules-for-recorded-crime