Climate crime arrests (294A/24)
Request
I would like to inquire on how many arrests were made between January 2023 and January 2024 relating to environmental or climate crime in the Birmingham area? If this information is easier to find area-wide across the West Midlands, this would also be acceptable.
We clarified with you on 15th Feb 2024 and you responded the same day.
Your amended request now reads:
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to inquire on how many arrests were made between January 2023 and January 2024 relating the offence of criminal damage where environmental / climate control issues have been an element.
Response
Our data are not organised in such a way as to allow us to provide this information within the appropriate (cost) limit within the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act (see ‘Reason for Decision’ below).
Crime involving environmental or climate control can be recorded under many different offence titles. You have asked for offences for criminal damage with the element of environmental / climate control issues.
There are 5292 records of criminal damage for the time period specified. In order to locate the environmental / climate control element would mean an individual search of each record to see if in the body of the crime / investigation notes these points were mentioned / related.
I am unable to suggest any practical way in which your request may be modified in order to satisfy your query or bring it within the 18 hours stipulated by the Regulations. I am however willing to consider any refinements that you are able to make to your request, in accordance with Section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act. If you would like to look into refining your request please contact me.
REASON FOR DECISION
Please note that researching each individual case would exceed the appropriate limit (FOIA, s.12).
5292 x 10 mins per record = 882 hours
The cost of compliance with the whole of your request is above the amount to which we are legally required to respond, i.e. the cost of locating and retrieving the information would exceed the appropriate costs limit under section 12(1) of the FOI Act 2000. For West Midlands Police, the appropriate limit is set at £450, as prescribed by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004, S.I. 3244.
Further information on section 12 of FOI is available here:
Attachments
No attachments