FOI 305984

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 305984

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on[23^rd January 2024  Please find below the response to your request:

I request the following information:

- The number of complaints of sexual misconduct made against serving officers from 3rd March 2021 to 31st December 2023, broken down by calendar year.

 - Please also provide the gender of the officer the complaint was made against.

- For each of the complaints can you please provide if they were either upheld, not upheld, withdrawn or abandoned or if the investigation is still ongoing - also broken down by calendar year.

Reply

The number of complaints of sexual misconduct made against serving officers from 3rd March 2021 to 31st December 2023, broken down by calendar year.

The gender of the officer the complaint was made against from 3^rd March 2021 to 31^st December 2023

2 Female

11 Male

The outcome of the complaint from 3^rd March 2021 – 31^st December 2023

Resolved – 1

Service Provided was acceptable – 6

Not determined if service was acceptable – 1

Not resolved NFA – 1

Live – 4

Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires West Mercia Police, when refusing to provide information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states the fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if not otherwise apparent) why the exemption applies.

With regard to the disclosure of any further information and breakdown, the following exemption applies:

Section 40(2) Personal Information

Section 40(2) applies to third party personal data. This would not be released under the Freedom of Information Act unless there is a strong public interest. The disclosure of any information which could lead to the identification of an individual would breach the Data Protection Principles contained with the Data Protection Act 2018, namely the first principle which states that personal data shall be processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to individuals

This exemption is absolute and class based therefore I am not required to apply either the public interest test or harm test in disclosure.

In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a Refusal Notice for this part of your request