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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 397140
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 27th March 2025 . Please find below the response to your request:
please can you provide the following information about sextortion cases in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
Could you please tell me the number of offences referring to the disclosure of private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress online (both email and online).
If I could also please get some information on victim age, victim gender and crime outcome where possible too that would be good.
I am looking for this data in the year from 2020 to 2025 to date.
It would be useful to see if there has been an increase year on year and also to get an idea of the number of offences there have been and if any of the cases involved deepfakes?
Reply
West Mercia police hold the information requested:
please can you provide the following information about sextortion cases in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
Could you please tell me the number of offences referring to the disclosure of private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress online (both email and online).
If I could also please get some information on victim age, victim gender and crime outcome where possible too that would be good.
I am looking for this data in the year from 2020 to 2025 to date.
Caveat:
The Home Office offence code of 08/71 ceased on 31 Jan 2024, being replaced immediately by the new codes of 088/14 and 088/15. For clarity, these codes have been displayed separately in the tables.
Number of Disclosure of Private image offences (Home Office codes 08/71, 088/14 and 088/15) in Worcestershire and Herefordshire recorded in West Mercia from 1 Jan 2020 to 28 Feb 2025:
Table 1: Total number of offences:
|
Home Office offence title and code |
Year |
|
|||||
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (Jan-Feb) |
Grand Total |
|
|
(08/71) EXPIRED – NOT FOR USE AFTER 30/01/24 - Attempted - Disclose or threats to disclose private sexual photographs/film with intent to cause distress. |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
(08/71) EXPIRED – NOT FOR USE AFTER 30/01/24 - Disclose or threats to disclose private sexual photographs/film with intent to cause distress. |
62 |
96 |
86 |
90 |
9 |
|
343 |
|
(088/14) Send photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm distress or humiliation |
|
|
|
|
14 |
4 |
18 |
|
(088/15) Sharing or threatening to share intimate photograph or film to cause alarm, distress or humiliation, or for sexual gratification |
|
|
|
|
85 |
21 |
106 |
|
Grand Total |
64 |
96 |
86 |
90 |
108 |
25 |
469 |
Table 2: Police outcomes
|
Police Outcomes |
Year |
Grand Total |
|||||
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (Jan-Feb) |
||
|
(08/71) EXPIRED – NOT FOR USE AFTER 30/01/24 - Attempted - Disclose or threats to disclose private sexual photographs/film with intent to cause distress. |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
(08/71) EXPIRED – NOT FOR USE AFTER 30/01/24 - Disclose or threats to disclose private sexual photographs/film with intent to cause distress. |
62 |
96 |
86 |
90 |
9 |
|
343 |
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition |
3 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
|
16 |
|
Type 3 - Caution Adult |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
7 |
|
Type 8 - Community resolution (Crime) |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
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 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
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 |
20 |
9 |
9 |
6 |
|
|
44 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
4 |
17 |
22 |
25 |
3 |
|
71 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
25 |
50 |
43 |
33 |
4 |
|
155 |
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
9 |
12 |
6 |
14 |
1 |
|
42 |
|
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. |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
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. |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Pending/under investigation |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
(088/14) Send photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm distress or humiliation |
|
|
|
|
14 |
4 |
18 |
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
|
|
|
|
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Pending/under investigation |
|
|
|
|
3 |
2 |
5 |
|
(088/15) Sharing or threatening to share intimate photograph or film to cause alarm, distress or humiliation, or for sexual gratification |
|
|
|
|
85 |
21 |
106 |
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
6 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
|
|
|
|
20 |
1 |
21 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
|
|
|
|
36 |
7 |
43 |
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
12 |
1 |
13 |
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Pending/under investigation |
|
|
|
|
9 |
11 |
20 |
|
Grand Total |
64 |
96 |
86 |
90 |
108 |
25 |
469 |
Table 3: Total number of offences by victim age group and gender
|
Victim age group and gender by Home Office offence title and code |
Year |
Grand Total |
|||||
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (Jan-Feb) |
||
|
(08/71) EXPIRED – NOT FOR USE AFTER 30/01/24 - Attempted - Disclose or threats to disclose private sexual photographs/film with intent to cause distress. |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
Male |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
20-29 years |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
30-39 years |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
(08/71) EXPIRED – NOT FOR USE AFTER 30/01/24 - Disclose or threats to disclose private sexual photographs/film with intent to cause distress. |
62 |
96 |
86 |
90 |
9 |
|
343 |
|
Female |
45 |
65 |
64 |
71 |
8 |
|
253 |
|
10-14 years |
|
|
4 |
7 |
|
|
11 |
|
15-19 years |
6 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
1 |
|
43 |
|
20-29 years |
29 |
29 |
25 |
26 |
1 |
|
110 |
|
30-39 years |
4 |
15 |
18 |
11 |
4 |
|
52 |
|
40-49 years |
3 |
8 |
6 |
11 |
2 |
|
30 |
|
50-59 years |
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
60 years and over |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
Male |
15 |
27 |
18 |
18 |
1 |
|
79 |
|
10-14 years |
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
15-19 years |
1 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
|
|
15 |
|
20-29 years |
10 |
12 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
|
34 |
|
30-39 years |
4 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
14 |
|
40-49 years |
|
3 |
1 |
6 |
|
|
10 |
|
50-59 years |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
60 years and over |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Gender not recorded |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
9 |
|
15-19 years |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
20-29 years |
2 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
40-49 years |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Age not recorded |
|
|
2 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
Gender Unknown |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
40-49 years |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Gender Unspecified |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
15-19 years |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
(088/14) Send photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm distress or humiliation |
|
|
|
|
14 |
4 |
18 |
|
Female |
|
|
|
|
11 |
3 |
14 |
|
10-14 years |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
15-19 years |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
20-29 years |
|
|
|
|
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
30-39 years |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
40-49 years |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
50-59 years |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
60 years and over |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Male |
|
|
|
|
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
10-14 years |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
15-19 years |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
40-49 years |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Gender not recorded |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Age not recorded |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
(088/15) Sharing or threatening to share intimate photograph or film to cause alarm, distress or humiliation, or for sexual gratification |
|
|
|
|
85 |
21 |
106 |
|
Female |
|
|
|
|
62 |
11 |
73 |
|
10-14 years |
|
|
|
|
6 |
3 |
9 |
|
15-19 years |
|
|
|
|
14 |
3 |
17 |
|
20-29 years |
|
|
|
|
14 |
2 |
16 |
|
30-39 years |
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
17 |
|
40-49 years |
|
|
|
|
8 |
2 |
10 |
|
50-59 years |
|
|
|
|
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
60 years and over |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Male |
|
|
|
|
20 |
9 |
29 |
|
10-14 years |
|
|
|
|
2 |
4 |
6 |
|
15-19 years |
|
|
|
|
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
20-29 years |
|
|
|
|
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
30-39 years |
|
|
|
|
3 |
3 |
6 |
|
40-49 years |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
50-59 years |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
60 years and over |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Gender not recorded |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
15-19 years |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
20-29 years |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
30-39 years |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Gender Unknown |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
15-19 years |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
64 |
96 |
86 |
90 |
108 |
25 |
469 |
if any of the cases involved deepfakes?
- Nil return