FOI 0629-2024/25- Social media crimes

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Request:

Under the FOI Act please could you provide me with a list of criminal complaints made since the beginning of 2020 about behaviour on the following platforms: Roblox, TikTok, OnlyFans, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, Snapchat, Whatsapp, LinkedIn, YouTube and WhatsApp.

Please could you provide details/a categorisation of the alleged offence (e.g. harassment, sexual grooming, etc.)the month of the alleged offence, the age of the crime's victim and

the status of the case (i.e. arrest, arrest no charge, arrest and charge, no arrest, etc.) as of today.

For the time period : 2020 to current date (calendar years).

Please provide a keyword search for crimes (reported crimes and incidents) with the following keywords:

Roblox

TikTok

OnlyFans,

Facebook,

Instagram,

Twitter

Snapchat,

Whatsapp,

LinkedIn,

YouTube

WhatsApp.

For each keyword please provide on separate tables:

Q1. Crime title

Q2. Age of victim

Q3. Outcome of the crime (arrest, charge, found guilty at court, not guilty, etc.)

Q4. Month of the crime

Response:

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose some of the located information to you.

To provide the outcomes the way stated i.e. found guilty or not guilty at court would trigger an excess cost, therefore the crime outcomes have been provided.

I am exempting the specific ages of these victims pursuant to Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please see the exemption explanation below.

Roblox

Please see the table below showing the total number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 to 22 October 2024 where the keyword ‘roblox’ is mentioned within the MO remarks, broken down by crime category.

Category	Count
Sexual Offences	10
Violence Against The Person	7
Fraud	4
Misc Crimes Against Society	3
Theft: Shoplifting	1
Theft: All Other Theft	1
Total	26

Age group	Count
26-35	9
Not recorded	5
18-25	4
10-17	3
56-64	2
36-45	2
46-55	1
65+	1
Total	27

Outcome	Count
18-Investigation complete - no suspect identified	10
Not yet assigned	5
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action	5
21-No Investigation - Not in public interest (Police)	2
11-Prosecution prevented – suspect under age	2
20-Action by other agency	1
10-Not in public interest (Police)	1
Total	26

	Calendar Year
Month	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Jan	0	0	0	1	1	2
Feb	0	1	0	1	3	5
Mar	0	2	1	1	0	4
Apr	1	2	0	0	2	5
May	0	0	0	0	2	2
Jun	1	0	1	0	0	2
Jul	0	0	0	0	0	0
Aug	0	0	0	1	0	1
Sept	0	0	0	0	1	1
Oct	0	0	2	0	1	3
Nov	0	0	0	1	0	1
Dec	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	2	5	4	5	10	26

TikTok

Please see the table below showing the total number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 to 22 October 2024 where the keyword ‘tiktok’ is mentioned within the MO remarks, broken down by crime category.

Category	Count
Violence Against The Person	133
Theft: All Other Theft	25
Misc Crimes Against Society	19
Fraud	15
Sexual Offences	11
Public Order Offences	3
Arson & Criminal Damage	1
Total	207

Age group	Count
10-17	46
18-25	38
26-35	37
Not recorded	25
46-55	20
36-45	16
56-64	14
65+	12
under 10	2
Total	210

Outcome	Count
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action	51
Not yet assigned	46
18-Investigation complete - no suspect identified	40
15-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports police action	22
21-No Investigation - Not in public interest (Police)	17
14-Evidential difficulties victim based – suspect not identified	13
01-Charged/Summonsed	4
08-Community Resolution	4
20-Action by other agency	3
03-Caution – adults	3
10-Not in public interest (Police)	2
11-Prosecution prevented – suspect under age	1
22-Diversionary or referral pathway; no public interest	1
Total	207

	Calendar Year
Month	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Jan	0	0	3	8	2	13
Feb	0	0	2	3	6	11
Mar	0	1	5	2	11	19
Apr	0	0	5	5	5	15
May	0	1	1	1	7	10
Jun	2	2	1	2	7	14
Jul	0	1	7	12	9	29
Aug	0	0	3	4	9	16
Sept	1	1	5	7	16	30
Oct	2	1	4	10	4	21
Nov	1	3	8	2	0	14
Dec	0	3	5	7	0	15
Total	6	13	49	63	76	207

OnlyFans

Please see the table below showing the total number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 to 22 October 2024 where the keyword ‘onlyfans’ is mentioned within the MO remarks, broken down by crime category.

Category	Count
Sexual Offences	1
Violence Against The Person	1
Theft: All Other Theft	1
Total	3

Age group	Count
18-25	1
Not recorded	1
36-45	1
Total	3

Outcome	Count
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action	2
20-Action by other agency	1
Total	3

Year & Month	Count
2023-03	1
2023-06	1
2024-05	1
Total	3

Facebook

Please see the table below showing the total number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 to 22 October 2024 where the keyword ‘facebook’ is mentioned within the MO remarks, broken down by crime category.

Category	Count
Violence Against The Person	1798
Fraud	1446
Theft: All Other Theft	315
Public Order Offences	78
Sexual Offences	75
Misc Crimes Against Society	59
Theft: Bicycle Theft	23
Arson & Criminal Damage	18
Burglary	11
Vehicle Offences	10
Theft: Theft From Person	6
Possession Of Weapons	2
Theft: Shoplifting	2
Drug Offences	1
Robbery	1
Total	3845

Age group	Count
18-25	804
26-35	756
10-17	704
36-45	494
Not recorded	394
46-55	381
65+	182
56-64	182
under 10	18
Total	3915

Outcome	Count
Not yet assigned	1394
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action	880
18-Investigation complete - no suspect identified	475
15-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports police action	422
14-Evidential difficulties victim based – suspect not identified	239
01-Charged/Summonsed	155
10-Not in public interest (Police)	107
03-Caution – adults	52
21-No Investigation - Not in public interest (Police)	43
08-Community Resolution	19
20-Action by other agency	18
17-Prosecution time limit expired	16
22-Diversionary or referral pathway; no public interest	14
09-Not in public interest (CPS)	6
12-Prosecution prevented – suspect ill	5
Total	3845

	Calendar Year
Month	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Jan	42	75	73	66	65	321
Feb	47	76	56	63	56	298
Mar	53	88	67	60	68	336
Apr	63	64	65	64	50	306
May	72	69	68	61	79	349
Jun	89	79	72	57	61	358
Jul	81	80	61	68	54	344
Aug	74	64	82	84	48	352
Sept	82	75	77	75	50	359
Oct	71	66	74	60	40	311
Nov	58	80	60	49	0	247
Dec	89	73	54	48	0	264
Total	821	889	809	755	571	3845

Instagram

Please see the table below showing the total number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 to 22 October 2024 where the keyword ‘instagram’ is mentioned within the MO remarks, broken down by crime category.

Category	Count
Theft: All Other Theft	368
Violence Against The Person	365
Fraud	197
Sexual Offences	164
Misc Crimes Against Society	111
Public Order Offences	14
Vehicle Offences	1
Arson & Criminal Damage	1
Theft: Bicycle Theft	1
Total	1222

Age group	Count
10-17	275
18-25	242
26-35	222
Not recorded	140
36-45	120
46-55	107
56-64	71
65+	56
under 10	7
Total	1240

Outcome	Count
18-Investigation complete - no suspect identified	411
Not yet assigned	227
14-Evidential difficulties victim based – suspect not identified	186
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action	132
21-No Investigation - Not in public interest (Police)	108
15-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports police action	63
01-Charged/Summonsed	25
10-Not in public interest (Police)	21
20-Action by other agency	13
08-Community Resolution	13
03-Caution – adults	9
22-Diversionary or referral pathway; no public interest	6
17-Prosecution time limit expired	4
02-Caution – youths	2
11-Prosecution prevented – suspect under age	1
12-Prosecution prevented – suspect ill	1
Total	1222

	Calendar Year
Month	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Jan	20	12	32	23	17	101
Feb	16	29	20	19	14	98
Mar	17	22	28	24	12	103
Apr	22	23	10	25	28	108
May	23	27	13	32	14	112
Jun	21	17	22	21	16	97
Jul	23	15	30	37	27	132
Aug	14	16	19	35	9	93
Sept	14	16	29	26	15	100
Oct	16	17	21	34	9	97
Nov	18	27	24	16	0	85
Dec	22	26	26	22	0	96
Total	226	247	274	314	161	1222

Twitter

Please see the table below showing the total number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 to 22 October 2024 where the keyword ‘twitter’ is mentioned within the MO remarks, broken down by crime category.

Category	Count
Violence Against The Person	26
Fraud	13
Theft: All Other Theft	6
Misc Crimes Against Society	4
Public Order Offences	4
Sexual Offences	2
Total	55

Age group	Count
26-35	14
18-25	10
10-17	9
Not recorded	6
36-45	6
56-64	4
46-55	4
under 10	1
65+	1
Total	55

Outcome	Count
Not yet assigned	19
18-Investigation complete - no suspect identified	15
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action	7
10-Not in public interest (Police)	4
08-Community Resolution	2
21-No Investigation - Not in public interest (Police)	2
15-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports police action	2
14-Evidential difficulties victim based – suspect not identified	2
09-Not in public interest (CPS)	1
03-Caution – adults	1
Total	55

	Calendar Year
Month	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Jan	0	1	2	2	0	5
Feb	0	2	2	2	0	6
Mar	3	1	1	0	1	6
Apr	0	0	0	0	1	1
May	0	0	1	0	0	1
Jun	2	3	0	1	0	6
Jul	2	1	0	1	2	6
Aug	0	1	2	1	1	5
Sept	0	1	2	1	2	6
Oct	0	0	0	1	2	3
Nov	2	1	2	2	0	7
Dec	0	0	3	0	0	3
Total	9	11	15	11	9	55

Snapchat

Please see the table below showing the total number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 to 22 October 2024 where the keyword ‘snapchat’ is mentioned within the MO remarks, broken down by crime category.

Category	Count
Violence Against The Person	667
Sexual Offences	320
Misc Crimes Against Society	296
Theft: All Other Theft	137
Fraud	54
Public Order Offences	20
Arson & Criminal Damage	6
Vehicle Offences	3
Drug Offences	3
Robbery	2
Possession Of Weapons	2
Theft: Bicycle Theft	1
Total	1511

Age group	Count
18-25	312
10-17	300
26-35	289
36-45	183
Not recorded	169
46-55	143
56-64	76
65+	60
under 10	1
Total	1533

Outcome	Count
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action	360
18-Investigation complete - no suspect identified	252
21-No Investigation - Not in public interest (Police)	226
Not yet assigned	188
15-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports police action	136
14-Evidential difficulties victim based – suspect not identified	134
01-Charged/Summonsed	64
10-Not in public interest (Police)	44
20-Action by other agency	39
08-Community Resolution	31
22-Diversionary or referral pathway; no public interest	21
03-Caution – adults	7
09-Not in public interest (CPS)	4
02-Caution – youths	3
11-Prosecution prevented – suspect under age	2
Total	1511

	Calendar Year
Month	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Jan	18	26	21	31	26	122
Feb	17	15	22	38	43	135
Mar	11	22	18	44	33	128
Apr	12	22	27	35	28	124
May	6	38	25	50	39	158
Jun	20	21	18	31	35	125
Jul	11	17	29	33	28	118
Aug	16	16	24	30	23	109
Sept	20	21	29	42	22	134
Oct	20	27	28	32	32	139
Nov	19	22	35	37	0	113
Dec	24	20	38	24	0	106
Total	194	267	314	427	309	1511

Whatsapp

Please see the table below showing the total number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 to 22 October 2024 where the keyword ‘whatsapp’ is mentioned within the MO remarks, broken down by crime category.

Category	Count
Fraud	355
Violence Against The Person	339
Sexual Offences	51
Theft: All Other Theft	48
Misc Crimes Against Society	47
Public Order Offences	17
Drug Offences	2
Vehicle Offences	1
Theft: Bicycle Theft	1
Total	861

Age group	Count
18-25	180
10-17	176
26-35	160
36-45	99
Not recorded	92
46-55	81
56-64	45
65+	38
under 10	5
Total	876

Outcome	Count
Not yet assigned	369
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action	158
18-Investigation complete - no suspect identified	91
15-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports police action	81
14-Evidential difficulties victim based – suspect not identified	47
21-No Investigation - Not in public interest (Police)	43
01-Charged/Summonsed	37
08-Community Resolution	9
10-Not in public interest (Police)	7
20-Action by other agency	7
03-Caution – adults	6
22-Diversionary or referral pathway; no public interest	3
12-Prosecution prevented – suspect ill	1
02-Caution – youths	1
11-Prosecution prevented – suspect under age	1
Total	861

	Calendar Year
Month	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Jan	8	13	22	6	24	73
Feb	11	13	24	12	13	73
Mar	6	25	13	9	9	62
Apr	6	13	9	15	13	56
May	12	9	25	20	11	77
Jun	9	7	27	16	9	68
Jul	14	12	22	17	18	83
Aug	15	12	19	11	18	75
Sept	17	14	25	15	7	78
Oct	5	26	16	14	13	74
Nov	14	32	11	18	0	75
Dec	5	34	18	10	0	67
Total	122	210	231	163	135	861

LinkedIn

Please see the table below showing the total number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 to 22 October 2024 where the keyword ‘linkedin’ is mentioned within the MO remarks, broken down by crime category.

Category	Count
Violence Against The Person	5
Fraud	5
Total	10

Age group	Count
18-25	3
46-55	2
Not recorded	2
26-35	2
10-17	1
65+	1
Total	11

Outcome	Count
Not yet assigned	5
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action	2
01-Charged/Summonsed	1
03-Caution – adults	1
15-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports police action	1
Total	10

	Calendar Year
Month	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Jan	0	0	0	1	1	2
Feb	2	0	0	0	0	2
Mar	0	0	0	1	0	1
Apr	0	0	0	0	0	0
May	0	0	0	0	1	1
Jun	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jul	0	0	1	0	0	1
Aug	0	2	0	0	0	2
Sept	0	0	0	0	0	0
Oct	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nov	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dec	1	0	0	0	0	1
Total	3	2	1	2	2	10

YouTube

Please see the table below showing the total number of crimes recorded between 01 January 2020 to 22 October 2024 where the keyword ‘youtube’ is mentioned within the MO remarks, broken down by crime category.

Category	Count
Violence Against The Person	27
Misc Crimes Against Society	9
Theft: All Other Theft	7
Fraud	6
Public Order Offences	3
Sexual Offences	1
Arson & Criminal Damage	1
Total	54

Age group	Count
10-17	13
26-35	12
Not recorded	7
18-25	7
36-45	6
46-55	5
65+	3
56-64	1
Total	54

Outcome	Count
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action	13
Not yet assigned	10
18-Investigation complete - no suspect identified	8
21-No Investigation - Not in public interest (Police)	6
14-Evidential difficulties victim based – suspect not identified	5
15-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports police action	5
20-Action by other agency	2
01-Charged/Summonsed	2
03-Caution – adults	1
11-Prosecution prevented – suspect under age	1
17-Prosecution time limit expired	1
Total	54

	Calendar Year
Month	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Jan	0	2	0	2	1	5
Feb	0	0	0	1	0	1
Mar	0	2	0	0	0	2
Apr	1	2	0	1	3	7
May	1	2	0	4	0	7
Jun	1	2	0	1	2	6
Jul	1	1	1	2	1	6
Aug	1	0	4	0	1	6
Sept	2	0	2	2	0	6
Oct	1	0	1	1	0	3
Nov	0	1	0	2	0	3
Dec	0	0	1	1	0	2
Total	8	12	9	17	8	54

*Please note that there can be multiple victims linked to a crime.

Exemption Explanation

Where an individual can be identified by such data, releasing it would clearly breach the first data protection principle of being ‘fair’ to the data subject.

Section 17 of the Act requires North Yorkshire Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

Section 40(2) is an absolute class based exemption, which does not require a public interest test, but requires the balancing of the legitimate interests of the public against the interests of the individual under the first Data Protection Principle; in that processing of personal data must be lawful and fair (DPA 2018 35(1), EUGDPR Article 5(1)).

This exemption applies because the right given under the FOI Act to request official information held by public authorities does not apply to the personal data of third parties where disclosure of that information would not be fair to the individual, and where there is no legitimate public interest in disclosure.

In all the circumstances of the case it has been determined that the duty to the individual under the Data Protection Act 2018 & EU General Data Protection Regulations, and the public interest in maintaining the exemption from disclosure of personal information held by the force in such instances, outweighs the public interest in disclosure. In this instance, personal information can only be disclosed to the individual concerned.

Releasing personal details to a person other than the data subject would not only breach the data subject’s Data Protection rights it may also breach the obligations placed on an authority under the European Convention on Human Rights

Pursuant to Section 17(1) of the Act this letter acts as a refusal notice under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to your request.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.

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FOI 0629-2024/25- Social media crimes