FOI Under 25 Weapons (0695-2022/23)

Request

1. Could I please request the most up-to-date figures of young people (up to 25yo) carrying sharp weapons from 01/01/2022-30/11/2022, along with their ages and, the electoral ward where the weapons were confiscated/found?

2. Can I also request any data of knife attacks in 01/01/2022-30/11/2022 by people aged 25 and under?

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 the located information to you.

Tables 1 -3 below relate to the number of crimes recorded by North Yorkshire Police between 01 January 2022 and 22 November 2022 for ‘possession of article with blade or point’. The number of offenders differs to the number of crimes due to more than one offender being involved in one crime.

Table 1: The total number of crimes recorded for ‘possession of article with blade or point’

Crime Type	Number of Crimes
Possession Of Article With Blade Or Point	33

Table 2: Age breakdown of offenders of crimes for ‘possession of article with blade or point’

Age	Number of Offenders
12 – 15	12
16 – 18	8
19 – 21	8
22 – 25	6
Total	34

Table 3: Safer Neighbourhood Command breakdown of crimes for ‘possession of article with blade or point’

Safer Neighbourhood Command	Number of Crimes
Hambleton & Richmondshire SNC	2
Harrogate SNC	8
Scarborough & Ryedale SNC	13
Selby SNC	6
York SNC	4
Total	33

Tables 4 – 6 below refer to all crimes with an offender aged 25 and under and has a weapon used recorded as ‘knife or glass’.

Table 4: The total number of crimes recorded where a weapon of knife or glass has been used and the offender is aged 25 and under

Crime Type	Number of Crimes
Arson & Criminal Damage	2
Criminal Damage To A Building Other Than A Dwelling	1
Criminal Damage To A Vehicle	1
Burglary	2
Aggravated Burglary – Residential	2
Possession Of Weapons	23
Possession Of Article With Blade Or Point	22
Possession Of Other Weapons	1
Public Order Offences	4
Other Offences Against The State Or Public Order	3
Public Fear, Alarm Or Distress	1
Robbery	3
Robbery Of Personal Property	3
Violence Against The Person	27
Assault With Injury	11
Assault With Intent To Cause Serious Harm	8
Assault Without Injury	6
Assault Without Injury On A Constable	1
Racially Or Religiously Aggravated Harassment	1
Total	61

Table 5: Age breakdown of offenders of crimes where a weapon of knife or glass has been used and the offender is aged 25 and under

Age	Number of Offenders
10 – 15	24
16 – 18	14
19 – 21	12
22 – 25	17
Total	67

Table 6: Safer Neighbourhood Command breakdown of crimes recorded where a weapon of knife or glass has been used and the offender is aged 25 and under

Safer Neighbourhood Command	Number of Crimes
Craven SNC	2
Hambleton & Richmondshire SNC	9
Harrogate SNC	11
Scarborough & Ryedale SNC	18
Selby SNC	10
York SNC	11
Total	61

Please note, the offender ages have been categorised, and safer neighbourhood commands have been provided, pursuant to section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). This is to ensure anonymity for those involved in each case, as to provide such specific ages and locations could lead to the identification of victims and offenders.

Exemption Explanation

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) – Personal Information

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)).

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.

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 part of 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.