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:
How many crime reports in the last three years (2015,2016, 2017) mention synthetic cannabinoids, spice or black mamba? Please can you break this down by year and month, and also detail be given on the nature of the crime report (eg there was a disturbance or robbery in which the drug was mentioned)
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.
A search has been carried out using the Crime MO for the key words 'spice,' 'black mamba' or 'synthetic cannabinoids.' The MO has been reviewed and we have removed any irrelevant crimes such as those referring to 'hospice' instead of the drug. I have included the month and year the crime was recorded, the type of crime and a count per month. As this request is answered using a key word search of the MO (which is free text), there may be crimes which are relevant but do not contain the key words mentioned above and therefore have not been counted. Results may differ from previously published FOI's because of different methods used and possible changes in crime status.
Therefore,if you decide to write an article / use the enclosed data we would ask you to take into consideration the factors highlighted in this document so as to not mislead members of the public or official bodies or misrepresent the relevance of the whole or any part of this disclosed material.
With the above in mind, I am able to disclose the located information to you as follows.
Date |
Type of Crime |
Number of Crimes |
Apr-15 |
Robbery - Personal |
1 |
Dec-15 |
Less serious violence against the person |
1 |
Mar-16 |
Miscellaneous crime |
1 |
Oct-16 |
Drug - Other |
2 |
Jan-17 |
Robbery - Personal |
1 |
Mar-17 |
Drug - Possession |
1 |
Jun-17 |
Drug - Other |
1 |
Jun-17 |
Drug - Possession |
5 |
Jun-17 |
Drug - Supply |
1 |
Jul-17 |
Drug - Possession |
7 |
Jul-17 |
Public disorder |
1 |
Aug-17 |
Assault without injury |
1 |
Aug-17 |
Drug - Other |
1 |
Aug-17 |
Drug - Possession |
5 |
Aug-17 |
Less serious violence against the person |
1 |
Sep-17 |
Drug - Supply |
2 |
Oct-17 |
Drug - Possession |
5 |
Nov-17 |
Burglary dwelling |
1 |
Nov-17 |
Drug - Possession |
3 |
Nov-17 |
Drug - Supply |
1 |
Dec-17 |
Drug - Possession |
4 |
Dec-17 |
Shoplifting |
1 |