Sexual abuse incidents on London Ambulance workers/Paramedics in 2022

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.028609

I note you seek access to the following information:

The request relates to: Met police & ambulance workers.

1. How many London Ambulance workers/Paramedics have reported they have been sexually abused to the Met over the past year?

2. How many sexual abuse allegations are currently being investigated in the Met where an Ambulance worker/paramedic has alleged they have been sexually abused at work?

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

We could only provide data on all VICTIMS of sexual offences where the VIW (Victim Informant Witness) Occupation is AMBULANCE SERVICE or AMBUANCE SERVICE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE. We do not have an occupation of paramedic on our system.

Before I explain 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.

With regards to Q2. How many sexual abuse allegations are currently being investigated in the Met where an Ambulance worker/paramedic has alleged they have been sexually abused at work?

Our searches produced low numbers on sexually abused at work that could identify individuals. It has been necessary to withhold the detailed statistical information where the value is low.

Disclosure

In order to reduce the harm in disclosure, I have decided to provide you with the numbers of Sexual offence victims with AMBULANCE SERVICE as occupation and
Sexual offence crimes with victims with AMBULANCE SERVICE as occupation currently being investigated.

Please see the attached spreadsheet.