Crimes logged where machete and acid attacks are mentioned for November & December 2022
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.028300
I note you seek access to the following information:
1. For the months of November and December 2022 how many crimes were logged by your force where a machete was recorded as being an element in the offence? [Note: I would hope that this could be achieved by a computer search on the MO of crimes for the words "machete" or variants of the spelling to include "machette" and "machetes".
2. Please provide me with a table showing a breakdown of the crimes from Question 1 that are `linked’ to machete/s by its mention in the MO.
3.Taking the month of December 2022 please provide me with copies of the first 5 MOs that mention machetes. [Note: To avoid falling into an exemption I am content for names, ages, geography or any other personal detail to be redacted].
4. For the months of November and December 2022 how many crimes were logged by your force where acid was recorded as being an element in the offence? [Note: I would hope that this could be achieved by a computer search on the MO of crimes for the words "acid” or “acid-attack”.
5. Please provide me with a table showing a breakdown of the crimes from Question 4 that are `linked’ to acid and acid attacks by its mention in the MO.
6.Taking the month of December 2022 please provide me with copies of the first 5 MOs that mention acid. [Note: To avoid falling into an exemption I am content for names, ages, geography or any other personal detail to be redacted].
Clarification – in February to explain we would not be able to answer questions 1, 2 and 3 as we do not have a feature code for ‘machete’. You were happy for us to just continue with questions 4, 5 and 6.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
| Month | Summary | Major Classification |
| NOV | Acid sprayed at victim | Violence against the person |
| NOV | Acid thrown over vehicle | Violence against the person |
| NOV | Damage to property with bleach | Burglary |
| DEC | Unknown substance thrown at victim | Violence against the person |
| DEC | Unknown liquid squirted onto victim | Violence against the person |
| DEC | Acid thrown in direction of victim | Violence against the person |