FOI 29769
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: HRC0029769/26
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 9th September 2026. Please find below the response to your request:
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide data relating to offences of non-fatal strangulation and suffocation (Home Office offence code 8/77 or equivalent classification used by your force).
Please provide the following information for the period 1 January 2023 to the most recent date for which complete data is available.
- Recorded offences
For each calendar year (2023, 2024, 2025 and year-to-date 2026), please provide:
- Total number of recorded non-fatal strangulation and suffocation offences.
- Victim demographics
For the same period, please provide the number of offences broken down by:
- Victim sex/gender
- Victim age group
- Victim ethnicity
Please provide counts rather than individual-level data.
- Suspect demographics
For the same period, please provide the number of identified suspects broken down by:
- Sex/gender
- Age group
- Ethnicity
- Domestic abuse
Please provide:
- Number of offences flagged as domestic abuse-related.
- Number not flagged as domestic abuse-related.
- Outcomes
Please provide the final recorded outcome for offences recorded during the period, including counts for:
- Charged/summonsed
- Caution
- Community resolution
- Evidential difficulties
- Victim does not support action
- Investigation complete with no suspect identified
- Under investigation
- Any other outcome categories used by the force
- Repeat victims
Where recorded and retrievable within cost limits, please provide:
- Number of unique victims.
- Number of victims linked to two or more recorded non-fatal strangulation offences during the period.
- Children
Please provide:
- Number of victims aged under 18.
- Number of suspects aged under 18.
Reply
West Mercia Police have conducted searches and hold the following information.
Caveat: The outcomes are provided as they appear on our system which match the Home Office outcome types.
Some crimes may have more than one suspect or victim linked to them, some may not have one or either. Therefore, the number of crimes may not match the number of victims or Suspects, and the number of victims may not match the number of suspects.
- Recorded offences
For each calendar year (2023, 2024, 2025 and year-to-date 2026), please provide:
- Total number of recorded non-fatal strangulation and suffocation offences.
|
Number of crimes recorded under HO Code 008/77, disaggregated by if Domestic Related and Outcome of investigation |
Calendar Year |
1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026 |
Grand Total |
||
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|||
|
Domestic Related |
718 |
624 |
595 |
423 |
2360 |
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition |
83 |
97 |
108 |
50 |
338 |
|
Type 1A - Charged/Summons - alternate offence. Offender has been charged under the alternate offence rule. |
22 |
19 |
13 |
6 |
60 |
|
Type 3 - Caution Adult |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
|
Type 3A - Caution Adult - alternate offence. Offender has been given a simple caution under the alternate offences rule. |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
|
Type 5 - Offender has died |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||
|
Type 8 - Community resolution (Crime) |
3 |
1 |
4 |
||
|
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 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
14 |
|
Type 13 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Victim Or Key Witness Is Dead Or Too Ill To Give Evidence |
1 |
2 |
3 |
||
|
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 |
5 |
8 |
11 |
6 |
30 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
147 |
95 |
72 |
43 |
357 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
430 |
386 |
373 |
216 |
1405 |
|
Type 17 - Prosecution Time Limit Expired: Suspect Identified But Prosecution Time Limit Has Expired |
5 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
|
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
|
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 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
|
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. |
4 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
|
|
Ongoing Investigation |
2 |
6 |
93 |
101 |
|
|
Not Domestic Related |
200 |
174 |
217 |
152 |
743 |
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition |
9 |
10 |
9 |
4 |
32 |
|
Type 11 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Is Below The Age Of Criminal Responsibility |
4 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
12 |
|
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 |
2 |
||
|
Type 13 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Victim Or Key Witness Is Dead Or Too Ill To Give Evidence |
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 |
15 |
10 |
18 |
10 |
53 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
50 |
49 |
49 |
26 |
174 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
85 |
82 |
90 |
55 |
312 |
|
Type 17 - Prosecution Time Limit Expired: Suspect Identified But Prosecution Time Limit Has Expired |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
15 |
12 |
20 |
9 |
56 |
|
Type 1A - Charged/Summons - alternate offence. Offender has been charged under the alternate offence rule. |
4 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
17 |
|
Type 2 - Caution Youth |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
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 |
10 |
8 |
4 |
22 |
|
|
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. |
4 |
6 |
2 |
12 |
|
|
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 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Type 3A - Caution Adult - alternate offence. Offender has been given a simple caution under the alternate offences rule. |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Type 8 - Community resolution (Crime) |
2 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
|
|
Type 9 - Prosecution Not In the Public Interest (CPS) |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Ongoing Investigation |
1 |
33 |
34 |
||
|
Grand Total |
918 |
798 |
812 |
575 |
3103 |
- Victim demographics
For the same period, please provide the number of offences broken down by:
- Victim sex/gender
- Victim age group
- Victim ethnicity
Please provide counts rather than individual-level data.
|
Gender of victims linked to crimes recorded under HO Code 008/77 (each victim has been counted once for each crime they are linked to as a victim) |
Calendar Year |
1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026 |
Grand Total |
||
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|||
|
Female |
701 |
620 |
578 |
427 |
2326 |
|
Male |
210 |
170 |
225 |
141 |
746 |
|
Unspecified |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||
|
Not Recorded |
3 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
19 |
|
Grand Total |
915 |
797 |
809 |
572 |
3093 |
|
Age Range of victims linked to crimes recorded under HO Code 008/77 (each victim has been counted once for each crime they are linked to as a victim) |
Calendar Year |
1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026 |
Grand Total |
||
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|||
|
17 & Under |
125 |
95 |
119 |
101 |
440 |
|
18 to 24 |
158 |
104 |
114 |
94 |
470 |
|
25 to 34 |
243 |
205 |
197 |
109 |
754 |
|
35 to 44 |
208 |
214 |
206 |
150 |
778 |
|
45 to 54 |
120 |
99 |
101 |
79 |
399 |
|
55 to 64 |
35 |
48 |
46 |
20 |
149 |
|
65 to 74 |
15 |
19 |
20 |
12 |
66 |
|
75 & Above |
11 |
13 |
6 |
7 |
37 |
|
Grand Total |
915 |
797 |
809 |
572 |
3093 |
|
Officer defined Ethnicity of victims linked to crimes recorded under HO Code 008/77 (each victim has been counted once for each crime they are linked to as a victim) |
Calendar Year |
1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026 |
Grand Total |
||
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|||
|
Arabic Or North African |
3 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
13 |
|
Asian |
32 |
20 |
10 |
8 |
70 |
|
Black |
18 |
18 |
12 |
12 |
60 |
|
Chinese, Japanese, Or Any Other South East Asian |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
Unknown |
72 |
63 |
74 |
51 |
260 |
|
White - North European |
743 |
657 |
679 |
476 |
2555 |
|
White - South European |
5 |
11 |
5 |
4 |
25 |
|
Not Recorded |
41 |
25 |
25 |
16 |
107 |
|
Grand Total |
915 |
797 |
809 |
572 |
3093 |
- Suspect demographics
For the same period, please provide the number of identified suspects broken down by:
- Sex/gender
- Age group
- Ethnicity
|
Gender of suspects linked to crimes recorded under HO Code 008/77 (each suspect has been counted once for each crime they are linked to as a suspect) |
Calendar Year |
1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026 |
Grand Total |
||
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|||
|
Female |
111 |
100 |
107 |
74 |
392 |
|
Male |
772 |
668 |
658 |
474 |
2572 |
|
Not Recorded |
5 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
|
|
Grand Total |
883 |
773 |
766 |
549 |
2971 |
|
Age range of suspects linked to crimes recorded under HO Code 008/77 (each suspect has been counted once for each crime they are linked to as a suspect) |
Calendar Year |
1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026 |
Grand Total |
||
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|||
|
17 & Under |
77 |
54 |
61 |
56 |
248 |
|
18 to 24 |
107 |
89 |
90 |
66 |
352 |
|
25 to 34 |
251 |
230 |
197 |
144 |
822 |
|
35 to 44 |
232 |
195 |
211 |
151 |
789 |
|
45 to 54 |
135 |
119 |
128 |
77 |
459 |
|
55 to 64 |
52 |
60 |
52 |
32 |
196 |
|
65 to 74 |
18 |
13 |
20 |
13 |
64 |
|
75 & Above |
11 |
13 |
7 |
10 |
41 |
|
Grand Total |
883 |
773 |
766 |
549 |
2971 |
|
Officer Defined Ethnicity of suspects linked to crimes recorded under HO Code 008/77 (each suspect has been counted once for each crime they are linked to as a suspect) |
Calendar Year |
1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026 |
Grand Total |
||
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|||
|
Arabic Or North African |
2 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
16 |
|
Asian |
36 |
28 |
15 |
15 |
94 |
|
Black |
30 |
29 |
31 |
22 |
112 |
|
Chinese, Japanese, Or Any Other South East Asian |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Unknown |
44 |
40 |
50 |
31 |
165 |
|
White - North European |
731 |
636 |
641 |
445 |
2453 |
|
White - South European |
8 |
12 |
9 |
8 |
37 |
|
Not Recorded |
32 |
22 |
17 |
22 |
93 |
|
Grand Total |
883 |
773 |
766 |
549 |
2971 |
- Domestic abuse
Please provide:
- Number of offences flagged as domestic abuse-related.
- Number not flagged as domestic abuse-related.
See response tables for question 1
- Outcomes
Please provide the final recorded outcome for offences recorded during the period, including counts for:
- Charged/summonsed
- Caution
- Community resolution
- Evidential difficulties
- Victim does not support action
- Investigation complete with no suspect identified
- Under investigation
- Any other outcome categories used by the force
See response tables for question 1
- Repeat victims
Where recorded and retrievable within cost limits, please provide:
- Number of unique victims.
- Number of victims linked to two or more recorded non-fatal strangulation offences during the period.
|
Number of Unique victims show by number of crimes recorded under Home Office Code 088/77 to which they have been linked as victim between 01/01/2023 & 31/08/2026 |
|
|
1 Crime |
2652 |
|
2 Crimes |
148 |
|
3 Crimes |
30 |
|
4 Crimes |
5 |
|
6 Crimes |
1 |
|
7 Crimes |
3 |
|
8 Crimes |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
2840 |
- Children
Please provide:
- Number of victims aged under 18.
- Number of suspects aged under 18.
See response tables for questions 2 and 3