FOI 281245
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 281245
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 28th September 2023. Please find below the response to your request:
Below I wanted to clarify the wording of my question in the hope it will be clearly understood.
When I refer to sexting I am seeking to secure data on cases which relate to the distribution of an indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child.
The time period I am seeking data on is between 2019-2022.
I am only seeking data for cases relating to offenders aged 18 and under.
- Please confirm in the last three years how many investigations relating to child sexting, involving alleged offenders aged 18 and under, were carried out by your Force
- Please specify how many people were charged following these investigations, and the age (at time of offence) for those who were charged.
Reply
West Mercia Police holds the information. Please see below FoI281245 Tables below:-
|
FOI 281245: Child sexting offences |
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|
Primary Full Offence Title of relevant offences where at least one suspect has been linked to the investigation who is aged 18 or under |
Calender Year |
Grand Total |
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|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||
|
Attempted - Possessing prohibited images of children |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Attempted - Possession of an indecent or pseudo indecent photo of a child |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
|
Possessing prohibited images of children |
|
3 |
2 |
|
5 |
|
Possession of an indecent or pseudo indecent photo of a child |
19 |
30 |
54 |
49 |
152 |
|
Take or to make or to distribute indecent photographs or pseudo- photographs, of children |
291 |
341 |
334 |
523 |
1489 |
|
Grand Total |
310 |
376 |
391 |
572 |
1649 |
|
Outcome of relevant offences where at least one suspect has been linked to the investigation who is aged 18 or under |
Calender Year |
Grand Total |
|||
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
||
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition |
5 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
14 |
|
Type 1A - Charged/Summons - alternate offence. Offender has been charged under the alternate offence rule. |
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Type 2 - Caution Youth |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
|
Type 2A - Caution Youth - alternate offence. Offender is a juvenile and has been given a youth caution under the alternate offences rule. |
|
1 |
|
1 |
2 |
|
Type 3 - Caution Adult |
|
2 |
2 |
|
4 |
|
Type 8 - Community resolution (Crime) |
2 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
Type 9 - Prosecution Not In the Public Interest (CPS) |
1 |
|
|
2 |
3 |
|
Type 10 - Formal Action Against Offender is not in the Public Interest (Police) |
4 |
2 |
|
1 |
7 |
|
Type 11 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Is Below The Age Of Criminal Responsibility |
5 |
5 |
2 |
10 |
22 |
|
Type 12 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Is Too Ill (Physical Or Mental Health) To Prosecute, or confirmed died either before crime reported or before enough evidence to charge |
|
|
|
3 |
3 |
|
Type 14 - Evidential Difficulties Victim Based- Suspect Not Identified: Crime Confirmed But The Victim Either Declines Or Unable To Support Further Police Investigation To Identify The Offender |
12 |
14 |
14 |
11 |
51 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
44 |
68 |
93 |
190 |
395 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
96 |
132 |
91 |
114 |
433 |
|
Type 17 - Prosecution Time Limit Expired: Suspect Identified But Prosecution Time Limit Has Expired |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
8 |
15 |
13 |
17 |
53 |
|
Type 20 - Further action resulting from the crime report will be undertaken by another body or agency subject to the victim (or person acting on their behalf) being made aware of the act to be taken |
45 |
12 |
13 |
7 |
77 |
|
Type 21 - Further investigation resulting from crime report which could provide evidence sufficient to support formal action against the suspect is not in the public interest - police decision. |
61 |
95 |
123 |
174 |
453 |
|
Type 22 - Diversionary, educational or intervention activity, resulting from the crime report, has been undertaken and it is not in the public interest to take any further action. |
21 |
23 |
22 |
20 |
86 |
|
Ongoing investigation |
1 |
1 |
11 |
20 |
33 |
|
Grand Total |
310 |
376 |
391 |
572 |
1649 |
Caveat: In line with national police data returns, the report is based on crime input date. This means that an offence that has occurred some months or years previously but reported recently, will be counted against the year/month in which it was reported.
The search looks at all recorded crimes within a live police records management system. Volumes may be different compared against previous or subsequent requests as offences can be reclassified and other information used to identify reports can be modified. The report only includes recorded notifiable crimes, excluding crime related incidents and crimes that have been reviewed and changed to no crime.
There may be more than one suspect linked to an investigation. In cases there are multiple suspects West Mercia Police have used the youngest suspects age to determine if they should be included in the results. Where there are multiple suspects linked to one investigation, there may be dealt with in different ways, for example one may get charged and no action will be taken against the other. On our local systems the investigation is filed with the highest level of outcome linked to one of the suspects. Therefore if one suspect is charged and one cautioned, the data will show that the crime has been filed as Outcome 1, charged.