Rape and Sexual Assault (737A/21)
Request
I would like to know how many reports of rape and sexual assault were made over the last five years. I would like these broken down for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 so far. I would also like the figures provided separately for rape and sexual assault.
I would also like to know how many successful convictions there were following reports or rape and sexual assault during the same period. Could these again be broken down for the same years? Could reasons also be provided in cases where there was not a successful conviction, such as no further action taken, lack of evidence etc?
Response
Please be advised that the information that you have requested is not available in a readily retrievable format. In relation conviction information, as this would be recorded within court records, which are not routinely fed back into our systems.
Therefore the cost of providing you with the information is above the amount to which we are legally required to respond i.e. the cost of locating and retrieving the information exceeds the ‘appropriate level’ as stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004.
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts as a Refusal Notice for this part of the request and if one part of a request exceeds the fees limit then S12 of the Act applies to the whole request
However, In accordance with Section 16 of the Act I have a duty to provide advice and assistance in relation to your request and can provide information in relation to Outcome for Question 2.
This should not be taken as a precedent that additional information would be supplied outside of the time/fees legislation for any subsequent requests