FOI 369051

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 369051

 

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 29^th October 2024. Please find below the response to your request:

 

I am seeking up-to-date information about the proportion of police detentions/interviews of suspects and voluntary interviews in which an appropriate adult was provided and for whom legal advice was requested and obtained as recorded by officers for both adults and juveniles. I would be grateful if you could provide the following data for your force area, for each year for the years ending 9 March 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024:

 

In relation to adults, please could you indicate the total number of

 

(1) authorised detentions

(2) interviews under arrest and

(3) voluntary Interviews.

 

Then for each whether

 

(a) A pre-interview Risk Assessment was conducted

(b) An appropriate adult was required

(c) An appropriate adult was provided

(d) Legal advice was requested

(e) Legal advice was provided

 

In relation to juveniles, please could you indicate the total number of

 

(1) authorised detentions

(2) interviews under arrest and

(3) voluntary Interviews.

 

Then for each whether

 

(a) A pre-interview Risk Assessment was conducted

(b) An appropriate adult was required

(c) An appropriate adult was provided

(d) Legal advice was requested

(e) Legal advice was provided

If this data is not held (or cannot be compiled within the cost limits) for the requested period, please provide any relevant data for the most recent possible period.

If this data is not held (or cannot be compiled within the cost limits) for any period, I would be grateful for any information by way of explanation (e.g. no records of voluntary interviews are held; the requirement for an appropriate adult is not systematically stored in custody information systems).

 

 

 

Reply

 

West Mercia Police hold the information requested, see tables below.

 

Please note:

• A suspect may be interviewed more than once during the same period of detention.
• The information given is taken from what is recorded on the custody detention logs.

Voluntary Interviews

• The system was upgraded in December 2020, records prior to this date may not have all the details requested for this FOI.
• The pre-interview risk assessment is based on the Welfare Assessment Form field completed as Yes.

 

	10 March 2020 - 9 March 2021	10 March 2021 - 9 March 2022	10 March 2022 - 9 March 2023	10 March 2023 - 9 March 2024
Number of Adult Authorised Detentions	13449	13421	14620	15814
Adult Detainees Fit for Interview	9087	9104	10226	11344
Number of Adult Custody Interviews	9699	9638	10715	11213
Appropriate Adult Required	440	469	675	809
Appropriate Adult Present at Interview	454	464	588	533
Legal Advice Requested	7119	7410	8583	9984
Legal Advice Received	6387	6458	7273	7788
Adult Voluntary Interviews	3597	3956	3786	3730
Pre-Interview RA	1712	3217	3134	3048
Appropriate Adult Required	131	189	219	195
Appropriate Adult Present at Interview	131	189	219	195
Legal Advice Requested	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Legal Advice Received	1099	2096	2029	1954

 

	10 March 2020 - 9 March 2021	10 March 2021 - 9 March 2022	10 March 2022 - 9 March 2023	10 March 2023 - 9 March 2024
Number of Children & Young People Authorised Detentions	737	780	887	1034
Children & Young People Detainees Fit for Interview	589	607	700	957
Number of Children & Young People Custody Interviews	597	617	707	769
Appropriate Adult Required	697	719	811	1008
Appropriate Adult Present at Interview	579	606	691	744
Legal Advice Requested	553	593	704	866
Legal Advice Received	509	536	610	669
Children & Young People Voluntary Interviews	520	708	982	684
Pre-Interview RA	264	582	574	560
Appropriate Adult Required	326	645	621	570
Appropriate Adult Present at Interview	326	645	621	570
Legal Advice Requested	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Legal Advice Received	172	381	381	374