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FOI 29780

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: HRC0029780/26

 

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 9th September 2026. Please find below the response to your request:

 

 

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I would be grateful if you could provide data for the period 1 January 2018 to 31 August 2026 relating to the following offences:

  1. Encouraging or assisting serious self-harm, as introduced by the Online Safety Act 2023.
  2. Section 2 of the Suicide Act 1961 (encouraging or assisting suicide).

Requested Information

For each of the above offences, please provide annual figures for the period specified, broken down by:

* Number of individuals cautioned

* Number of individuals charged

* Number of individuals prosecuted (i.e., cases brought before a court)

* Number of convictions secured (if held by your organisation)

Demographic Breakdown

Where available, please also provide demographic information for both victims and suspected perpetrators, broken down as follows:

Victims

* Gender

* Age (either exact age or age bands, depending on what is held)

Perpetrators / Suspects

* Gender

* Age (either exact age or age bands)

If demographic data is not held for all stages (e.g., cautions vs. prosecutions), please provide it for any stage where it is recorded.

If your organisation does not hold some or all of the requested information, please confirm this and, where possible, direct me to the appropriate body.

 

 

Reply

 

Caveat: Under Management of Police Information guidance data may be deleted off of our systems after 6 years, therefore the data can only be provided for the past 6 years, specifically from 01/01/2020.

 

The Online Safety Act 2023 has a commencement date of 31/01/2024 hence why the tables relating to these offences starts from 2024.

 

The Home Office Notifiable Offences list has been checked these codes used to search for relevant offences on our system.

 

Some of these offences are considered state based which means there is no necessity to link a victim. Some crimes may have multiple suspects/victim some may not have either. The totals for the number of offences/suspects/victims may not match.

 

Our crime management system only allows for one outcome to be applied to an investigation, in cases where there are multiple suspects and differing action is taken against the highest level of punitive action is recorded. Therefore, the number of crimes closed as a particularly outcome does not necessarily indicate the number of persons that specific action was taken against.

 

Conviction data can be obtained from the courts.

 

 

Primary Full Title & Outcomes of investigations recorded under a code linked to Online Offences Act 2023 (commencement date 31/01/2024)

Calendar Year

1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026

Grand Total

2024

2025

Encourage or assist serious self-harm by another

4

12

14

30

Type 3 - Caution Adult

  

1

  

1

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

1

1

3

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

2

7

4

13

Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available

1

2

1

4

Ongoing Investigation

    

5

5

Send communication threatening death or serious harm

283

455

406

1144

Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition

8

14

7

29

Type 1A - Charged/Summons - alternate offence. Offender has been charged under the alternate offence rule.

4

9

  

13

Type 3 - Caution Adult

1

1

3

5

Type 3A - Caution Adult - alternate offence. Offender has been given a simple caution under the alternate offences rule.

2

1

1

4

Adult Caution - conditional

  

1

3

4

Type 8 - Community resolution (Crime)

4

5

3

12

Type 9 - Prosecution Not In the Public Interest (CPS)

1

    

1

Type 10 - Formal Action Against Offender is not in the Public Interest (Police)

1

    

1

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

2

2

1

5

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

30

45

56

131

Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action

53

67

55

175

Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action

132

240

170

542

Type 17 - Prosecution Time Limit Expired: Suspect Identified But Prosecution Time Limit Has Expired

2

    

2

Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available

41

62

41

144

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.

2

5

5

12

Ongoing Investigation

  

3

59

62

Send false communication with intent to cause harm

27

40

14

81

Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition

  

2

  

2

Type 8 - Community resolution (Crime)

    

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

2

5

3

10

Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action

4

4

1

9

Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action

11

12

5

28

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

9

16

1

26

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

Ongoing Investigation

    

3

3

Sending or showing flashing images electronically with intent to harm

    

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

Grand Total

314

507

435

1256

 

 

Demographics of suspects linked to investigations recorded under a code linked to Online Offences Act 2023 (commencement date 31/01/2024)

Calendar Year

1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026

Grand Total

2024

2025

Encourage or assist serious self-harm by another

4

10

11

25

Female

4

7

8

19

17 & Under

  

2

2

4

18 to 24

3

3

5

11

25 to 34

1

    

1

35 to 44

  

2

1

3

Male

  

3

3

6

17 & Under

  

1

1

2

18 to 24

    

2

2

35 to 44

  

2

  

2

Send communication threatening death or serious harm

214

349

314

877

Female

45

93

77

215

17 & Under

14

33

23

70

18 to 24

7

13

14

34

25 to 34

10

19

14

43

35 to 44

9

22

16

47

45 to 54

3

2

7

12

55 to 64

2

3

1

6

65 to 74

  

1

1

2

75 & Above

    

1

1

Male

169

254

237

660

17 & Under

31

48

48

127

18 to 24

20

40

45

105

25 to 34

46

55

61

162

35 to 44

41

70

45

156

45 to 54

20

28

22

70

55 to 64

8

10

11

29

65 to 74

2

2

3

7

75 & Above

1

1

2

4

Unknown

  

2

  

2

25 to 34

  

2

  

2

Send false communication with intent to cause harm

17

20

9

46

Female

8

9

2

19

17 & Under

1

2

  

3

18 to 24

4

1

1

6

25 to 34

1

4

  

5

35 to 44

2

1

  

3

45 to 54

  

1

1

2

Male

9

11

7

27

17 & Under

1

7

2

10

18 to 24

1

    

1

25 to 34

3

    

3

35 to 44

1

1

4

6

45 to 54

2

1

  

3

55 to 64

1

2

  

3

65 to 74

    

1

1

Grand Total

235

379

334

948

 

 

 

Demographics of victims linked to investigations recorded under a code linked to Online Offences Act 2023 (commencement date 31/01/2024)

Calendar Year

1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026

Grand Total

2024

2025

Encourage or assist serious self-harm by another

3

11

13

27

Female

2

8

10

20

17 & Under

2

4

7

13

18 to 24

  

4

2

6

25 to 34

    

1

1

Male

1

3

2

6

17 & Under

1

  

2

3

18 to 24

  

1

  

1

25 to 34

  

1

  

1

35 to 44

  

1

  

1

(blank)

    

1

1

17 & Under

    

1

1

Send communication threatening death or serious harm

274

443

392

1109

Female

133

211

188

532

17 & Under

27

47

34

108

18 to 24

14

34

41

89

25 to 34

38

46

40

124

35 to 44

25

46

39

110

45 to 54

18

23

21

62

55 to 64

11

10

8

29

65 to 74

  

4

3

7

75 & Above

  

1

2

3

Male

135

227

200

562

17 & Under

32

43

50

125

18 to 24

19

28

37

84

25 to 34

25

48

37

110

35 to 44

29

60

37

126

45 to 54

14

26

20

60

55 to 64

8

17

12

37

65 to 74

7

4

5

16

75 & Above

1

1

2

4

(blank)

6

5

4

15

17 & Under

3

1

1

5

18 to 24

1

    

1

25 to 34

1

2

  

3

35 to 44

1

2

1

4

45 to 54

    

1

1

75 & Above

    

1

1

Send false communication with intent to cause harm

25

39

13

77

Female

18

16

6

40

17 & Under

5

1

1

7

18 to 24

1

2

  

3

25 to 34

4

5

2

11

35 to 44

5

2

1

8

45 to 54

1

4

1

6

55 to 64

2

2

1

5

Male

7

22

7

36

17 & Under

  

2

  

2

18 to 24

2

6

1

9

25 to 34

2

6

1

9

35 to 44

  

5

2

7

45 to 54

1

3

2

6

55 to 64

2

  

1

3

(blank)

  

1

  

1

45 to 54

  

1

  

1

Sending or showing flashing images electronically with intent to harm

    

1

1

Male

    

1

1

35 to 44

    

1

1

Grand Total

302

493

419

1214

 

 

 

Primary Full Title & Outcomes of investigations recorded under a code linked to Suicide Act 1961

Calendar Years

1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026

Grand Total

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Attempted - Intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another

    

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

Intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another

2

1

3

    

1

1

8

Type 9 - Prosecution Not In the Public Interest (CPS)

    

2

        

2

Type 10 - Formal Action Against Offender is not in the Public Interest (Police)

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

Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action

1

1

          

2

Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action

    

1

        

1

Ongoing Investigation

            

1

1

Grand Total

2

1

4

    

1

1

9

 

Demographics of suspects linked to investigations recorded under a code linked to Suicide Act 1961

Calendar Years

1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026

Grand Total

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Attempted - Intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another

              

0

Intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another

4

1

3

        

8

Female

1

1

2

        

4

25-34

1

            

1

65-74

  

1

1

        

2

75 & Above

    

1

        

1

Male

3

  

1

        

4

25-34

1

            

1

35-44

1

            

1

55-64

1

            

1

75 & Above

    

1

        

1

Grand Total

4

1

3

        

8

 

 

Victims linked to investigations recorded under a code linked to Suicide Act 1961

Calendar Years

1 Jan - 31 Aug 2026

Grand Total

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Attempted - Intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another

              

0

Intentionally doing an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another

1

1

2

    

1

1

6

Female

  

1

1

    

1

  

3

17 & Under

          

1

  

1

65-74

    

1

        

1

75 & Above

  

1

          

1

Male

1

  

1

      

1

3

17 & Under

            

1

1

55-64

1

            

1

75 & Above

    

1

        

1

Grand Total

1

1

2

    

1

1

6