FOI 386821
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 386821
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 30th January 2025. Please find below the response to your request:
- The total number of recorded cruelty to children/young person offences (Home Office offence code: 11A) for the periods 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
- The total number of victims broken down by age (by individual year of age where possible otherwise please provide it grouped into: 0-5, 6-10, 11-15 and 16-17).
Reply
West Mercia Police hold the information requested
|
Number of investigations created between 01/04/2023 & 31/03/2024 shown by Primary HO Classification Code |
Total |
|
11A |
680 |
|
Grand Total |
680 |
|
Age Range of victims linked to investigations created between 01/04/2023 & 31/03/2024 with a Primary HO Classification Code of "11A" |
Total |
|
0 to 5 |
290 |
|
6 to 10 |
208 |
|
11 to 15 |
168 |
|
16 to 17 |
10 |
|
18 and over |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
677 |
Caveat: The age of the victim will be at the time that the offending is reported to have started. Therefore, if someone reported an offence of child cruelty which took place in previous years it would be included in these totals and their age would be shown at the time of the offence not their current age.
Not all investigations have a victim linked, for example where a member of the public reports a concern but upon police attendance no details for the child can be obtained. There are other occasions where there can be more than one victim linked to a crime. This is why the number of victims does not match the number of investigations.