FOI 414314
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 414314
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 10th June 2025. Please find below the response to your request:
I refine my request and ask for the information requested in Question 1, Part 1 and Questions 2 and 3 please?
REQUEST 1:
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MALICIOUS REPORTS
- i) Is there a mechanism/Policy for identifying a "serial, malicious reporter" ie someone who
- a) makes more than one allegation against the same person or
- b) who makes one allegation but against multiple different people
and if these are unfounded is there a trigger when these would be considered to be wasting police time?
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REQUEST 2:
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HARASSMENT/THREATS
- i) Is there a Policy for handling complaints of harassment, particularly when the harassment is from a family member? Is there any specific training relating to this?
- ii) If an allegation of harassment/threats is made is it normal to classify this as "domestic abuse" if the threats/harassment are made by someone known to the victim? Are there guidelines for when this categorisation is appropriate?
iii) How many cases of domestic abuse and cases of harassment/threats were reported in the past three years and what were the outcomes?
- iv) Is there a hierarchy of classifications - are threats/harassment by a family member and classified as domestic abuse considered less serious than threats/harassment?
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REQUEST 3:
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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
- i) Is there support available to women/girls subject to psychological violence/abuse? Is there a Policy outlining when this should be triggered?
- ii) How many women/girls have been offered this support over the past three years - categorised by physical and psychological violence/abuse
iii) How is awareness of this support communicated to West Mercia staff?
Reply
West Mercia Police hold some of the information requested
MALICIOUS REPORTS
- i) Is there a mechanism/Policy for identifying a "serial, malicious reporter" ie someone who
West Mercia Police do not have any documents specifically relating to:
identifying a "serial, malicious reporter"
All policies that are shareable under the FOI act are also on the force’s internet site which can be accessed by the public.
Our Policies | West Mercia Police | West Mercia Police
HARASSMENT/THREATS
- Is there a Policy for handling complaints of harassment, particularly when the harassment is from a family member? Is there any specific training relating to this?
We do not have any documents specifically relating to:
handling complaints of harassment, particularly when the harassment is from a family member.
- If an allegation of harassment/threats is made is it normal to classify this as "domestic abuse" if the threats/harassment are made by someone known to the victim? Are there guidelines for when this categorisation is appropriate?
Not all reports of Threat and harassment will also be considered to be Domestic Abuse this will be determined by the officer attending the incident.
Crimes are recorded following the rules dictated to by the guidance given by the Home Office
Home Office Crime Recording Rules for frontline officers and staff - GOV.UK
- How many cases of domestic abuse and cases of harassment/threats were reported in the past three years and what were the outcomes?
The home office codes used to filter to provide this information were:
Primary HO Classification Codes:
8L Harassment.
8M Racially or Religiously Aggravated Harassment
All offences with a domestic abuse flag and harassment offences recorded in West Mercia from 1/1/2022 to 31/5/2025.
|
Calendar Year |
Grand Total |
||||
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (Jan-May) |
||
|
All crimes with a domestic abuse flag |
18,122 |
16,158 |
15,036 |
6,372 |
55,688 |
|
Police Outcomes for all crimes with a domestic abuse flag |
Calendar Year |
Grand Total |
|||
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (Jan-May) |
||
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition |
879 |
1,128 |
959 |
268 |
3,234 |
|
Type 1A - Charged/Summons - alternate offence. Offender has been charged under the alternate offence rule. |
369 |
339 |
286 |
41 |
1,035 |
|
Type 2 - Caution Youth |
7 |
2 |
9 |
||
|
Type 2A - Caution Youth - alternate offence. Offender is a juvenile and has been given a youth caution under the alternate offences rule. |
2 |
2 |
|||
|
Type 3 - Caution Adult |
175 |
135 |
98 |
31 |
439 |
|
Type 3A - Caution Adult - alternate offence. Offender has been given a simple caution under the alternate offences rule. |
52 |
33 |
24 |
3 |
112 |
|
Type 5 - Offender has died |
4 |
1 |
4 |
9 |
|
|
Type 6 - Penalty notice for disorder |
2 |
2 |
|||
|
Type 8 - Community resolution (Crime) |
6 |
48 |
22 |
14 |
90 |
|
Type 9 - Prosecution Not In the Public Interest (CPS) |
9 |
3 |
4 |
16 |
|
|
Type 10 - Formal Action Against Offender is not in the Public Interest (Police) |
2 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
|
|
Type 11 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Is Below The Age Of Criminal Responsibility |
6 |
6 |
2 |
14 |
|
|
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 |
88 |
142 |
70 |
18 |
318 |
|
Type 13 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Victim Or Key Witness Is Dead Or Too Ill To Give Evidence |
24 |
15 |
30 |
8 |
77 |
|
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 |
357 |
238 |
221 |
77 |
893 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
4,522 |
4,284 |
2,951 |
709 |
12,466 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
11,125 |
9,336 |
9,490 |
3,365 |
33,316 |
|
Type 17 - Prosecution Time Limit Expired: Suspect Identified But Prosecution Time Limit Has Expired |
220 |
140 |
125 |
21 |
506 |
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
185 |
152 |
179 |
41 |
557 |
|
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 |
32 |
36 |
18 |
8 |
94 |
|
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. |
4 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
13 |
|
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. |
30 |
36 |
28 |
4 |
98 |
|
Pending/under investigation |
22 |
78 |
520 |
1,762 |
2,382 |
|
Grand Total |
18,122 |
16,158 |
15,036 |
6,372 |
55,688 |
Please Note:
It was unclear if the applicant wanted all cases of harassment or only those harassment offences with a domestic abuse element. Therefore, both have been presented in the tables above
- Is there a hierarchy of classifications - are threats/harassment by a family member and classified as domestic abuse considered less serious than threats/harassment?
No information held
Reports are graded when the calls are made to the level of harm, there is no distinction to whether it is a family member to how reports are classified. See Home Office Recording link above
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
- Is there support available to women/girls subject to psychological violence/abuse? Is there a Policy outlining when this should be triggered?
Yes support is available through WMRSASC, IDVA and HIDVA. There is a DA policy which is current and signposts.
- How many women/girls have been offered this support over the past three years - categorised by physical and psychological violence/abuse
DVA/HIDVA referrals
2022-23 number of referrals to service – 2099 (includes appropriate and inappropriate).
Police referrals (including DAU) – 1255
2023-24 number of referrals to service – 2023 (includes appropriate and inappropriate).
Police referrals (including DAU) – 1097
2024-25 number of referrals to service – 2609 (includes appropriate and inappropriate).
Police referrals (including DAU) – 1530
Number of appropriate new IDVA/HIDVA referrals
|
2022-2023 |
2023-2024 |
2024-25 |
|
1612 |
1632 |
1969 |
iii) How is awareness of this support communicated to West Mercia staff
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Through training programmes and IDVA support