Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')
As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of access to information held at the time of a request, by a Public Authority (including the Police), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.
You asked:
1. Please could you provide the numbers of reported cases and outcomes for Disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress under section 33 of Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2016/22/part/1/crossheading/disclosure-of-an-intimate-photograph-or-film/enacted) for the years 2021(jan-dec) where the victim is 18 or over.
a. We would also like this to include threats to share private sexual images, under section 69 of the domestic abuse act (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/17/part/6/crossheading/disclosure-of-private-sexual-photographs-and-films/enacted)
b. Also for Voyeurism (under Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019- http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/2/enacted) under the same conditions for
c. And Exortion (under section Section 21 of the Theft Act 1968 - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/21) Under the same conditions for:
Cases of the crimes and subsequent outcomes:
- Arrests
- Cautions given
- Offenders charged and number of charges
- Community resolution
- Cases marked No Further Action
In Response:
Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted with the Corporate Development Department of Northumbria Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by Northumbria Police.
I am able to disclose the located information to you with the following noted.
- It should be noted in relation to question 1a that the effect of the domestic abuse act as stated was to amend the existing offence of disclosing intimate images to include threats of the same rather than creating a new offence. As such, a single figure has been presented across this.
- Note that for offences prior to the introduction of the domestic abuse act (we believe this came into effect in April 2021) the original meaning would most likely be used.
Offence |
Outcome |
Count |
Blackmail |
Total |
402 |
Charge/Summons |
2 |
|
Evidential difficulties |
25 |
|
Investigation complete - no suspect identified |
239 |
|
Not stated |
28 |
|
Victim declines or is unable to identify suspect |
85 |
|
Victim does not support police action |
23 |
|
Disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress |
Total |
162 |
Caution adult |
2 |
|
Charge/Summons |
8 |
|
Evidential difficulties |
40 |
|
Investigation complete - no suspect identified |
31 |
|
Not in public interest (police) |
2 |
|
Not stated |
22 |
|
Victim declines or is unable to identify suspect |
8 |
|
Victim does not support police action |
49 |
|
Voyeurism - installing equipment or constructing or adapting a structure/part of a structure with intention of enabling self/another to record a person doing a private act |
Total |
40 |
Charge/Summons |
1 |
|
Evidential difficulties |
11 |
|
Investigation complete - no suspect identified |
4 |
|
Not stated |
16 |
|
Victim declines or is unable to identify suspect |
1 |
|
Victim does not support police action |
7 |
Offence |
Arrests |
Blackmail |
12 |
Disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress |
8 |
Voyeurism - installing equipment or constructing or adapting a structure/part of a structure with intention of enabling self/another to record a person doing a private act |
1 |