Recorded incidents of theft of dogs by breed in 2022

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.027980

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. What were the total number of dog theft crimes in 2022 (monthly breakdown if possible)?

2. What was the outcome (charge/summons, community resolution, active investigation, evidential difficulties, no suspect identified) for each dog theft crime in 2022?

3. How many dogs were listed with each dog theft crime in 2022?

4. If this question doesn't take us beyond the time required for free FOI feedback, can details about stolen dog breed, gender, age and location of theft (walk, home, garden, outside shop, from car etc) also be provided for 2022 please?

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 21(1) - Information Accessible to Applicant by Other Means

Reason for decision

Section 21(1) - Information Accessible to Applicant by Other Means - of the Act provides public authorities with an exclusion from the duty to disclose information under Section 1(1)(b) of the Act, when the information requested is reasonably accessible to the applicant.

Disclosure

I have disclosed some of the located information to you. The information requested at parts 1 and 3 of your request has been published by the MPS. A link to this information has been provided below.

MPS Website - Stolen Animals Dashboard

The information requested at part 2 of your request, as well as each stolen dog’s breed as requested at part 4 of your request, has been provided within the spreadsheet enclosed with this notice.