Theft of motor vehicles including make, model, categorisation and recoveries from January 2023 to January 2024
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.035822
I note you seek access to the following information:
1. The records for theft of a motor vehicle from January 2023 to January 2024 (inclusive) month on month i.e. the number of vehicle thefts notified each month, in Excel format, detailing:
a. the make and model of the vehicle
b. the vehicle categorisation i.e. car, HGV, moped etc
2. whether the vehicles concerned have been recovered
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)(a)(b)(3)(A)(i) – Personal Information.
Reason for decision
In regards to your request for the make and model of the vehicles reported stolen for the 13 month period you have requested, this information I am withholding.
This is because to release this information broken down to the level you have requested would potentially risk identification of those involved in the investigation. Further to this the make and model of a vehicle is not a mandatory field and can be left blank, therefore even if we were to provide this information it potentially would provide an accurate illustration.
Under Section 40(2) and (3) of the Act, public authorities are able to withhold information where its release would identify any living individual and breach the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA).
Those involved in these offences, be it vitim(s), witness(s) or supect(s) would not reasonably expect this information to be published by the MPS and I have found that as no prior consent has been given to release this personal data any release would accordingly be unfair to them. In the case of legitimate processing, it is not appropriate to release this information and the exemption provided by Section 40(2)(3) of the Act is therefore engaged.
Disclosure
Please find below a spreadsheet with the answers to Question 1, Question 1b and Question 2.
Theft of motor vehicles including make, model, categorisation and recoveries from January 2023 to January 2024