Sex Offences - 1315/18

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. How many criminal reports were made in the last five years (2018*, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014) under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 set out below? *up to the latest date you have recordings for*

Please break this down by year and say which section was invoked.

 

Section 47 – Paying for sexual services of a child

Section 48 – Causing or inciting sexual exploitation of a child

Section 49 – Controlling a child in relation to sexual exploitation

Section 50 – Arranging or facilitating sexual exploitation of a child

Section 51A – Soliciting

Section 52 – Causing or inciting prostitution for gain

Section 53 – Controlling prostitution for gain

Section 53A – Paying for sexual services of a prostitute subjected to force etc.

 

2. How many of these reports resulted in cautions and charges? Please break this down by year.

 

3. How many reports have been made within your service area in the last five years (2018*,2017,2016,2015,2014) in respect of the offence of keeping a brothel used for prostitution under section 33A of the Sexual Offences Act 1956? Please break this down by year.

 

In Response:

We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request and I provide a response for your attention.

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 as attached.

 

Northumbria Police’s number one priority is to protect vulnerable members of the communities we serve, which includes victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.

The rise in reports of ‘causing or inciting prostitution for gain’ in 2015 was linked to Operation Sanctuary, with 8 of these reports associated to the far-reaching operation into sexual exploitation.