Knife crime data from May 2019 to May 2022

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.025237

I note you seek access to the following information:

I am writing to request data recorded in relation to knife crime which I believe is in the public interest after a series of knife crime offences have taken place across the UK in recent months.

With all requests outlined below, please provide a total number although any details which doesn’t disclose personal information, such as details on the type of offence would be appreciated.

How many people have been arrested for knife crime for the following years:

May 2019- May 2020
May 2020- May 2021
May 2021- May 2022

How many people have been charged through a knife crime for the following years:
May 2019- May 2020
May 2020- May 2021
May 2021- May 2022

How many victims of knife crime has been recorded in your region for the years:
May 2019- May 2020
May 2020- May 2021
May 2021- May 2022

How many victims under the age of 16 have been recorded by your force for the years:
May 2019- May 2020
May 2020- May 2021
May 2021- May 2022

Can you specify how many minors under the age of 16 have been arrested for knife crime? Can you give a break down by age and sex?
May 2019- May 2020
May 2020- May 2021
May 2021- May 2022

Can you specify how many minors under the age of 16 have been charged for knife crime for the years:
May 2019- May 2020
May 2020- May 2021
May 2021- May 2022

Decision

I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:

Section 40(2)(3)&(4) – Personal Information

Reason for decision

Before I explain the reasons for the decisions I have made in relation to your request, I thought that it would be helpful if I outline the parameters set out by the Act within which a request for information can be answered. The Act creates a statutory right of access to information held by public authorities. A public authority in receipt of a request must, if permitted, confirm if the requested information is held by that public authority and, if so, then communicate that information to the applicant.

The right of access to information is not without exception and is subject to a number of exemptions which are designed to enable public authorities to withhold information that is not suitable for release. Importantly, the Act is designed to place information into the public domain, that is, once access to information is granted to one person under the Act, it is then considered public information and must be communicated to any individual should a request be received.

Details of an investigation could cause an individual to be identified and is therefore exempted in this case. Section 3 of the Data Protection Act 2018 confirms that information which relates to an identified or identifiable living individual is Personal Data.

The Freedom of Information Act provides an exemption for Personal Data and this is known as the section 40 exemption.
Some of the information sought under your Freedom of Information request includes the following which we consider to be Personal Data

• Low numbers of people in the report, that could, if fully disclosed, identify an individual.

Where the request is seeking access to third party personal data the section 40(2) exemption may be engaged.

In order to apply the Section 40(2) exemption the disclosure of the requested information must satisfy either the first, second or third conditions as defined by subsections 3A, 3B and 4A of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (as amended by Section 58 of the Data Protection Act 2018).

The first condition ensures that the exemption would apply in circumstances where the disclosure of the information would breach any of the Data Protection Act 2018 principles.

There are six Data Protection principles set out in the 2018 act and these can be found at section 34.

In this instance I have decided that the disclosure of the Personal Data would be incompatible with the first Data Protection principle which states that the processing (in this case the disclosure) of the data must be both lawful and fair.

Disclosure

The harm of disclosure is reduced by redacting the low numbers from the data.

Please see attached a file titled 22025237 Final File, pursuant to your request for information.

Number of Victims of Knife Crime Offences under the Age of 16 across the MPS - Recorded 01/05/2019 to 31/05/2022.

• Ages 6, 7 and 8 - Have been completely redacted due to low numbers of people that could be identified or self-identify.

People Proceeded Against Knife Crime Across the MPS - Proceeded date 01/05/2019 to 31/05/2022.

• Youth Conditional Caution – Has been completely redacted due to low numbers of people that could be identified or self-identify.

People Proceeded against Knife Crime Under the age of 16 Across the MPS - Proceeded date 01/05/2019 to 31/05/2022.

• Charge/further charge – ages under 11, 11 and 12 have been completely redacted due to low numbers of people that could be identified or self-identify.

• Postal Charge Requisition – ages 11, 12 and 13 have been completely redacted due to low numbers of people that could be identified or self-identify.

• Youth Caution – ages 12, 13, 14 and 15 have been completely redacted due to low numbers of people that could be identified or self-identify.

• Youth Conditional Caution – ages 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 have been completely redacted due to low numbers of people that could be identified or self-identify.