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Request:
Q1. Under the Freedom of Information Act, could you provide me with the number of blackmail crimes, in each of the past three financial years (April 1 to March 31 - 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23) and the current financial year to date (April 1 2023 to date), where a webcam has been involved in some way, i.e. where either webcam, web cam, video or social media are mentioned in the summary of the report.
Could you provide a summary of each report, including outcome, and state whether the alleged victim was aged under 16, 16 to 18 or over 18.
Q2. Please could you also provide me with a count of the number of crimes recorded as threatening to/disclosing private images in each of the past three financial years (April 1 to March 31 - 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23) and the current financial year to date (April 1 2023 to date). Again, please provide information about outcomes for these and a breakdown by whether the alleged victim was aged under 16, 16 to 18 or over 18.
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.
Q1. Please see the table below showing the total number of blackmail crimes recorded where either webcam, web cam, video or social media are mentioned within the MO remarks, between 2020 and 2024, broken down by financial year.
Financial Year |
Total |
2020/2021 |
84 |
2021/2022 |
165 |
2022/2023 |
139 |
2023/2024 |
132 |
Total |
520 |
Q1. Please see the table below showing the total number of blackmail crimes recorded where either webcam, web cam, video or social media are mentioned within the MO remarks, between 2020 and 2024, broken down by outcome.
Outcome |
Total |
18-Investigation complete - no suspect identified |
326 |
14-Evidential difficulties victim based – suspect not identified |
136 |
Not recorded |
27 |
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action |
15 |
15-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports police action |
7 |
20-Action by other agency |
6 |
01-Charged/Summonsed |
1 |
10-Not in public interest (Police) |
1 |
03-Caution – adults |
1 |
Total |
520 |
Q1. Please see the table below showing the total number of blackmail crimes recorded where either webcam, web cam, video or social media are mentioned within the MO remarks, between 2020 and 2024, broken down by victim age.
Victim Age |
Total |
under 16 |
28 |
16-18 |
85 |
over 18 |
407 |
Total |
520 |
Q2. Please see the table below showing the total number of Disclose or threats to disclose private sexual photographs/film with intent to cause distress crimes recorded where either webcam, web cam, video or social media are mentioned within the MO remarks, between 2020 and 2024, broken down by financial year.
Financial year |
Total |
2020/2021 |
34 |
2021/2022 |
43 |
2022/2023 |
24 |
2023/2024 |
23 |
Total |
124 |
Q2. Please see the table below showing the total number of Disclose or threats to disclose private sexual photographs/film with intent to cause distress crimes recorded where either webcam, web cam, video or social media are mentioned within the MO remarks, between 2020 and 2024, broken down by outcome
Outcome |
Total |
16-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action |
42 |
18-Investigation complete - no suspect identified |
17 |
15-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports police action |
17 |
Not recorded |
15 |
14-Evidential difficulties victim based – suspect not identified |
15 |
01-Charged/Summonsed |
7 |
03-Caution – adults |
4 |
10-Not in public interest (Police) |
2 |
20-Action by other agency |
2 |
21-No Investigation - Not in public interest (Police) |
2 |
22-Diversionary or referral pathway; no public interest |
1 |
Total |
124 |
Q2. Please see the table below showing the total number of Disclose or threats to disclose private sexual photographs/film with intent to cause distress crimes recorded where either search terms stated in the request are within the MO remarks, between 2020 and 2024, broken down by victim age.
Victim Age |
Total |
under 16 |
7 |
16-18 |
16 |
over 18 |
103 |
Total |
126 |
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.