FOI 452227
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 452227
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 15th January 2026. Please find below the response to your request:
I would like to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act. Please could you provide me with details on the following data surrounding upskirting, under the Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019:
- How many incidents of upskirting were reported to your police force in each of the years 2019-2025, broken down by calendar year 2. How many incidents resulted in an arrest and/or charge? 3. Can you provide data on the approximate age of the victim at the time of the offence (20s, 30s, 40s etc) in each of the years 2019 - 2025?
Reply
West Mercia Police hold information in relation to your request.
Caveat: To ensure the Force remains compliant with GDPR and MoPI regulations, certain MoPI 3 level data is automatically deleted from Force systems after a period of 6 years. As a result, the data within this FOI will only date back 6 years to reduce confusion and the misinterpretation of data as records prior to 6 years will potentially not be complete or accurate.
- How many incidents of upskirting were reported to your police force in each of the years 2019-2025, broken down by calendar year
Number of upskirting offences (code 088/12):
|
Calendar Year |
Number of offences |
|
2020 |
4 |
|
2021 |
9 |
|
2022 |
2 |
|
2023 |
10 |
|
2024 |
5 |
|
2025 |
10 |
|
Grand Total |
40 |
- How many incidents resulted in an arrest and/or charge?
|
Police Outcomes |
Calendar Year |
Grand Total |
|||||
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
||
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||||
|
Type 3 - Caution Adult |
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 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|||
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
1 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
9 |
||
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
|
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
|
|
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 |
2 |
||||
|
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 |
|||||
|
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 |
2 |
||||
|
Pending/under investigation |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||||
|
Grand Total |
4 |
9 |
2 |
10 |
5 |
10 |
40 |
- Can you provide data on the approximate age of the victim at the time of the offence (20s, 30s, 40s etc) in each of the years 2019 - 2025?
|
Victim Age Group |
Calendar Year |
Grand Total |
|||||
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
||
|
11 - 14 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
16 |
||
|
15 - 19 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
11 |
|
20 - 29 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
|||
|
30 - 39 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|||
|
50 - 55 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Grand Total |
4 |
8 |
2 |
9 |
5 |
8 |
36 |