Data on Cuckooing from April 2019 to March 2023

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.030589

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. How many cases of cuckooing have you dealt with in the financial year of (a) 2018-19 (b) 2019-20 (c) 2020-21 (d) 2021-22 and (e) 2022-23?

2. How many cases of cuckooing have you dealt with in the financial year of (a) 2018-19 (b) 2019-20 (c) 2020-21 (d) 2021-22 and (e) 2022-23 have included victims with disabilities?

3. What is the average age of the victims of cuckooing across the financial years of (a) 2018-19 (b) 2019-20 (c) 2020-21 (d) 2021-22 and (e) 2022-23?

Please present your response as similar to the following:

Cases:
2018-19 - 42
2019-20 - 54
2020-21 - 58
2021-22 - 50
2022-23 - 60

Cases which involved victims with disabilities:
2018-19 - 12/42
2019-20 - 14/54
2020-21 - 12/58
2021-22 - 20/50
2022-23 - 21/60

Average age (of all cases):
2018-19 - 64
2019-20 - 63
2020-21 - 63
2021-22 - 65
2022-23 - 64

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 23(5) - Information Concerning Security Bodies

In addition, and irrespective of what other information may or may not be held relating to this request, also requires the MPS to Neither Confirm nor Deny (NCND) whether it holds any further information.

This is because the duty in Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act).

Reason for decision

Section 23(5) (Information concerning/relating to security bodies) NCND of the Act provides - (5)The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would involve the disclosure of any information (whether or not already recorded) which was directly or indirectly supplied to the public authority by, or relates to, any of the bodies specified in subsection (3).
Sections 23 is a class based absolute exemption and there is no requirement to evidence the harm or consider the public interest.

In regards to the engagement of the above exemption, please note this response should not be taken as an indication of whether or not further information is held, other than what the MPS have confirmed is held within this response to your request.

Disclosure

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Important: Please ensure the note page of the attached is read in conjunction with the data.