Sexual offences - 006/18

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 crimes were recorded by the force in the listed years below relating to the offence of ‘attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity’?

2. How many PPA (people proceeded against) were recorded by the force for the offence ‘attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity’?

3. How many of those cases in Q2 used evidence supplied by so called Paedophile Hunters?

4. How many crimes were recorded by the force in the listed years below relating to the offence of ‘causing a child to watch sexual activity’?

5. How many PPA (people proceeded against) were recorded by the force for the offence of ‘causing a child to watch sexual activity’?

6. How many of those cases in Q5 used evidence supplied by so called Paedophile Hunters?

7. How many crimes were recorded by the force in the listed years below relating to the offence of ‘attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming’?

8. How many PPA (people proceeded against) were recorded by the force for the offence of ‘attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming’?

9. How many of those cases in Q8 used evidence supplied by so called Paedophile Hunters? 

Please could I have the details for the calendar years 2015, 2016, and 2017. 

After we sought clarity your then advised: 

By PPA I’m looking for people charged. 

I’m aware that paedophile hunting groups are more active in some areas than others, and not all police forces have had much interaction with them.

Here are the paedophile hunting groups that seem to be the most active:

Dark Justice

Guardians of the North

Silent Justice

Stinson Hunter

Predator Exposure 

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. 

The data has been accessed from the Central Database using the Crimes and disposals tables.

‘Paedophile hunters’ was clarified and the following groups, as per your submission,  were searched for in the MO: 

Dark Justice

Guardians of the North

Silent Justice

Stinson Hunter

Predator Exposure 

With the above in mind, please see attached.