Dog Theft (1359A/21)
Request
- 1. How many dog thefts were reported to the force in 2021 so far, with the figures broken down by month and area.
Of those, how many resulted in the dog(s) being found, and how many resulted in a person being charged or summonsed?
3. How many dog thefts were reported to the force in the 12 months from January 2020 to December 2020, with the figures broken down by month and area.
4. Of those, how many resulted in the dog(s) being found, and how many resulted in a person being charged or summonsed?
- Can the thefts of dogs in 2020 and 2021 be broken down into specific breeds?
6. How many dog thefts were reported to the force in 2019, 2018, and 2017.
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).
Unfortunately, due to a major change in West Midlands Police recording systems, the information that you have requested beyond 7th April 2021 cannot be retrieved. Therefore we are unable to provide the information for this part of your request.
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause. Any data provided for 2021 within this request is for the period 1/1/2021 – 7/4/2021. To locate information after that would require an individual assessment of each theft report which would exceed the time limitations.
Although excess cost removes the force’s obligations under the Freedom of Information Act, as a gesture of goodwill I have supplied information, relative to your request, retrieved before it was realised that the fees limit would be exceeded (see enclosed). I trust this is helpful, but it does not affect our legal right to rely on the fees regulations for the remainder of the request.
- How many dog thefts were reported to the force in 2021 so far, with the figures broken down by month and area.
For the time frame 1st Jan 2021 to 7th April 2021.
| Month | No. Records |
| January 2021 | 10 |
| February 2021 | 12 |
| March 2021 | 12 |
| April 2021 | 1 |
| Total | 35 |
This is the number of reported incidents not number of dogs.
For example some incidents say that “the dogs” or “they” were stolen but there is no indication in the MO how many.
| Neighbourhood | No. Reords |
| Acocks Green | 1 |
| Amblecote | 1 |
| Bartley Green | 2 |
| Brandwood | 1 |
| Brierley Hill | 1 |
| Brockmoor and Pensnett | 1 |
| Bushbury South and Low Hill | 2 |
| Castle and Priory | 2 |
| Cradley and Wollescote | 1 |
| Foleshill | 1 |
| Hall Green | 2 |
| Kingstanding | 2 |
| Lozells and East Handsworth | 1 |
| Nechells | 1 |
| Norton | 1 |
| Park | 1 |
| Radford | 1 |
| Soho and Victoria | 2 |
| Southside | 1 |
| Sparkbrook | 1 |
| St Michael’s | 2 |
| St Peter’s | 1 |
| Sutton Four Oaks | 2 |
| Wednesbury South | 2 |
| West Bromwich Central | 1 |
| Willenhall South | 1 |
| Total | 35 |
- Of those, in 2021 how many resulted in the dog(s) being found, and how many resulted in a person being charged or summonsed?
For the time frame 1st Jan 2021 to 7th April 2021.
Six incident summaries reference the dog(s) being found or returned to the owner.
Zero crimes resulted in a person being charged or summonsed.
- How many dog thefts were reported to the force in the 12 months from January 2020 to December 2020, with the figures broken down by month and area?
Under section 21 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. The information you requested is available on the following website.
https://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/dog-thefts-456a-21/
- Of those, (2020) how many resulted in the dog(s) being found, and how many resulted in a person being charged or summonsed?
Under section 21 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. The information you requested is available on the following website.
https://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/dog-thefts-456a-21/
- Can the thefts of dogs in 2020 and 2021 be broken down into specific breeds?
https://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/dog-thefts-456a-21/
2020:
Under section 21 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. The information you requested is available on the following website.
https://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/dog-thefts-456a-21/
For 2021 1/1/2021 to 7/4/2021 =
| Breed | No. Records |
| Bullmastiff | 1 |
| Chihuahua | 1 |
| Chinese Crested | 1 |
| Cocker Spaniel | 1 |
| Corgi | 1 |
| French Bulldog | 4 |
| Labrador | 2 |
| Pug | 1 |
| Shih Tzu | 1 |
| Springer Spaniel | 1 |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 2 |
| Total | 16 |
The breed is not always recorded – not a mandatory field
-
How many dog thefts were reported to the force in 2019, 2018, and 2017.
Under section 21 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. The information you requested is available on the following website.
For 2018 and 2019:
https://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/dog-thefts-456a-21/
For 2017:
https://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/dog-thefts-636a-20/
Attachments
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