Offences recorded under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 where the victim/suspect aged over 18 years old from 2000 to 2022

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.029198

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. The period is from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2022,

2. Where the offence has been identified as a sexual offence as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to include attempts.

3. The request is irrespective of the sex of the victim or the perpetrator.

4. It is for all reports where either the victim or the suspect is over the age of eighteen (18) year.

5. To assist with the data collection, can you please include in your response how you’re Police Service records if the perpetrator or victim of a sexual offence states that they identify their gender as different to that as recorded on their birth certificate (i.e. male/female)?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

In response to questions 1 to 4 above.

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

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.

Q5 - How your Police Service records if the perpetrator or victim of a sexual offence states that they identify their gender as different to that as recorded on their birth certificate (i.e. male/female)?

When recording crimes, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is required to comply with the Home Office Counting Rules, in line with other police forces in England and Wales.

Presently, this does not provide any advice or requirements for the recording of an individual’s sex or gender, whether they be victims, offenders, witnesses or informants. However, our crime recording system (CRIS) allows for the sex of an individual to be recorded along with any ‘other’ victim / suspect / accused information:

Sex: Male / Female / Other

In addition to this, there is an 'Officer's Notes' section further down which allows for specific text pertaining to anything not covered within the constraints of the individual's pages.

In terms of self-defining, there is no policy which stipulates that the MPS must record self-defined gender of a person who makes contact with the police.