FOI Injuries from Online Challenges (0467-2022/23)

Request

1)            The number of incidents recorded by the force since 2018, in which a person has been injured by either:

-              Participation in, or action inspired by, a challenge (or suspected challenge), which has been advertised online (may include reference to social media challenge, video, post or trend).

-              Action which appears to have been taken with the intent (or suspected intent) to film its outcome for the purpose of posting online (may include reference to a phone or camera being found set up to record the action).

2)            The above figures, broken down by year and, if the data allows, the age range of victims (under 10, 10-17, 18-25, over 25).

3)            The number of deaths recorded since 2018 which make reference to one of the above criteria (this may include reference to death by misadventure), also broken down, if the data allows, by year and age range of victims."

Response

Extent of Searches to Locate Information

Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police to locate relevant information. 

Decision

I am not obliged to provide you with a response to your request pursuant to Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please note that when one part of your request falls under Section 12, we are not obliged to review the rest of the questions and the whole request is therefore exempt.

Section 12(1) applies to your request as the cost of complying with your request is above the amount to which we are legally required to respond i.e. the cost of identifying and retrieving any relevant information exceeds the ‘appropriate level’ as stated in the Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.

Due to the nature of our recording systems the information requested, if held, is not in an easily retrievable format. Our data retrieval process normally relies on computer generated reports which identify information held within specific fields. The information you have requested is broad in nature and as there is no specific crime for people who have been injured or killed in relation to online challenges, we are unable to provide this information within the time limit allowed under the Act.

Pursuant to Section 17(5) of the Freedom of Information Act this letter acts as a Refusal Notice.

Pursuant to Section 16 of the Act I am required to offer you advice and assistance with regarding to refining your request to within the ‘appropriate limit’ (time/cost limit). However, due to the information provided above I am unable to suggest how you may refine your request and still receive the information within the cost threshold.  If you wish to discuss this, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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.