Information on working hours and requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.039197
I note you seek access to the following information:
(A1) How many "working hours" have the department responsible for managing those those subject to notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 spent doing so? E.g. If you have 10 employees and they work for 500 hours a year mitigating risk then this would be 5000 hours a year.
(A2) Of those "working hours" how many were spent on managing those individuals classed as "low risk" offenders specifically?
(A3) Are there any individuals that are classed as "no risk" offenders that are monitored?
(A4) What was the cost to the Police Force in managing both "low risk" and "no risk" offenders in the years 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019?
(B1) For the years 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 - how many applications were made by those subject to notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for removal from indefinite notificaiton requirements pursuant to Part 2, sections 88 and 91 of that act?
(B2) Of those applications, for all years mentioned, how many were succesful vs how many were unsuccesful?
(B3) What is the breakdown of the risk level of the offenders removed who were granted permission to have their notification requirements removed?
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
QA1 - How many "working hours" have the department responsible for managing those those subject to notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 spent doing so? E.g. If you have 10 employees and they work for 500 hours a year mitigating risk then this would be 5000 hours a year.
This information is not held by the MPS. It is not possible to work out how many hours officers may have worked in this unit, the reasons for this is because although there may be some dedicated officers who work in this unit, officers move around borough command units (BCU’s) during the year and it would be impossible to calculate how many officer hours would have been spent here.
QA2 - Of those "working hours" how many were spent on managing those individuals classed as "low risk" offenders specifically?
This information is not held by the MPS due to the above.
QA3 - Are there any individuals that are classed as "no risk" offenders that are monitored?
No there were no individuals classed as ‘no risk’.
QA4 - What was the cost to the Police Force in managing both "low risk" and "no risk" offenders in the years 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019?
Again this information is not held by the MPS as it would not be possible to cost any particular unit based on some of the reasoning above. Officers move around BCU’s and it would not be possible to calculate officers wages, and any additional costs etc.
QB1 - For the years 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 - how many applications were made by those subject to notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for removal from indefinite notificaiton requirements pursuant to Part 2, sections 88 and 91 of that act?
2023 – 21 applications.
2022 – 136 applications.
2021 – 144 applications.
2020 – 119 applications.
2019 – 100 applications.
QB2 - Of those applications, for all years mentioned, how many were succesful vs how many were unsuccesful?
Successful applications:
2023 – 21
2022 – 127
2021 – 106
2020 – 94
2019 – 90
The criteria for removals are set out in Home Office guidance which can be found here: Guidance on Review of indefinite notification requirements issued under Section 91F of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.pdf
QB3 - What is the breakdown of the risk level of the offenders removed who were granted permission to have their notification requirements removed?
This information is not held by the MPS.