Thefts from motor vehicle logged by the MPS from January 2019 to November 2021

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.21.022274

I note you seek access to the following information:

The total number of thefts from motor vehicles logged by your force for the period 1 April 2021 to 30 November 2021.

1. I would also like a monthly break down of the number of thefts from motor vehicles logged by your force for the period 1 April 2021 to 30 November 2021.

2. For each month, please could you also give a breakdown of the items stolen (e.g. catalytic converter, headlights, bonnet etc.)

I can see that the total number of thefts from motor vehicles up until April 2021 is available on the stats section of your website.

3. Could you please provide a breakdown of the items stolen (e.g. catalytic converter, headlights, bonnet etc.) for each month for the periods:

1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019
1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020
1 January 2021 to 31 March 2021

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

Before I explain reasons for the decisions that I have made in relation to your request, I thought that it would be helpful to outline the parameters set out by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (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 respect of a request must, if permitted, state under Section 1(a) of the Act, whether it holds the requested information and, if held, then communicate that information to the applicant under Section 1(b) of the Act.

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 unsuitable 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.

Reason for decision

The breakdown of the items stolen in the above periods specified. Has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure by virtue of the following exemption:

Section 40(2)(3)&(4) – Personal Information - As any information that identifies an individual is 'personal information', as defined under the data protection act 1998.

If the MPS disclosed the information requested in point 1 above, it would be possible for an individual to be identified, as specified within the scope of your request. It would be possible to use the specifics of this data to narrow down individuals (victims). To disclose information which could cause harm to individuals cannot be allowed.

The information sought under your Freedom of Information request includes the following which we consider to be Personal Data:

- The breakdown of the items stolen in the above periods specified.

It is very likely due to the scope of your request, individuals could be identified. It would be possible to use the specifics of this data to narrow down individuals.

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

I have disclosed the following information.

Please find attached a spreadsheet in which the requested information below has been provided.

The Number of Items Stolen from a Vehicle by Month:

- Recorded between 01/04/2021 and 30/11/2021
- Recorded between 01/01/2019 and 31/03/2021

IMPORTANT:
• Please ensure that the note section within the spreadsheet is read in conjunction with the data in this report to ensure that it is interpreted correctly.

INFORMATION
Please refer to the link to guidance around vehicle safety