Removal of videos from YouTube in 2023-24

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.037137

I note you seek access to the following information:

In the 2023 - 24 financial year, how many videos has Scotland Yard asked YouTube to take down because of concerns about their links to gang violence.
Of the total number of videos that were requested to be removed, how many were taken down by YouTube.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full. Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

In the 2023 - 24 financial year, how many videos has Scotland Yard asked YouTube to take down because of concerns about their links to gang violence.
Of the total number of videos that were requested to be removed, how many were taken down by YouTube.

The MPS does not request the removal of content from online platforms, the MPS refers breaches of community guidelines to the platforms and the platforms make a decision on whether the content is removed. The referrals are not made due to concerns in relation to the content's link to gang violence, content is referred where a breach of the platforms community guidelines is identified and it is suspected that the content may lead to an escalation of violence.

Using this criteria, the volume of videos referred to You Tube in 2023 - 24 was 257 and 243 of these were subsequently removed from the platform. (If it is data on music videos only the numbers are 227 and 214 respectively.)