FOI TikTok Crimes (0399-2022/23)

Request

1) In the 2021 calendar year how many crimes were logged by your force when the social media app TikTok was recorded as being an element in the offence?

Note: I would hope that this could be achieved by a computer search of crimes for the word/s ‘TikTok’ and ‘Tik tok’.

2) In the 2021 calendar year how many crimes were logged by your force where the social media app TikTok was the modus operandi for the offence?

Note: I would hope that this could be achieved by a computer search of crimes for the word/s ‘TikTok’ and ‘Tik tok’.

3) In reference to both questions 1 and 2, please provide me with the statistics for the calendar years going back to 2017.

Note: If going back 4 calendar years exceeds time or cost constraints, I would like the statistics for 3 calendar years, and so on.

4) Please provide me with a table showing a breakdown of the crimes from question 1 - when the social media app TikTok was recorded as being an element in the offence.

Note: To avoid falling into an exemption I am content for the names, ages, geography or any other detail to be redacted to allow for the disclosure of the incident and how it relates to TikTok.

5) Please provide me with a table showing a breakdown of the crimes from question 2 - when the social media app TikTok was the modus operandi for the offence.

Response

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information

To arrive at the data below, searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police Systems for crimes where the key-words  “Tik Tok”, “TikTok” and “Tik-Tok” appear.

I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police. Please note that the use of “TikTok” as a descriptive is not mandatory in our recording systems so the below data-set may not be complete. Also, there are no instances occurring prior to 2019 Calendar Year.

Following your clarification, I have taken “involved in the modus operandi” to mean where the platform was used to arrange, facilitate or actually commit the relevant offence, rather than where it is mentioned as an incidental element.

Decision

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

Q1) In the 2021 calendar year how many crimes were logged by your force when the social media app TikTok was recorded as being an element in the offence?

In 2021, North Yorkshire Police have 34 separate crimes where TikTok is referenced in the record as forming part of the overall record.

Q2) In the 2021 calendar year how many crimes were logged by your force where the social media app TikTok was the modus operandi for the offence?

In 2021, North Yorkshire Police have 32 separate crimes where TikTok is referenced in the record as forming an integral part of the Modus Operandi.

Q3) In reference to both questions 1 and 2, please provide me with the statistics for the calendar years going back to 2017.

See below table. Please note, no records appear in our systems prior to 2019

Calendar Year	TikTok Referenced in record	Tikok integral to MO
2021	34	32
2020	12	9
2019	1	1

Q4) Please provide me with a table showing a breakdown of the crimes from question 1 - when the social media app TikTok was recorded as being an element in the offence.

and

Q5) Please provide me with a table showing a breakdown of the crimes from question 2 - when the social media app TikTok was the modus operandi for the offence.

Please see below tables.

Note, in accordance with your request, to avoid any exemptions, particularly given the low numbers reported on, I have presented generalised data in the below tables.

Table 1. North Yorkshire Police Crimes Where TikTok is shown as involved but does not form an integral part of the Modus Operandi -2021

Crime Description	Crimes Recorded
Violence Against The Person	2

Table 2. North Yorkshire Police Crimes Where TikTok forms an integral part of the Modus Operandi -2021

Crime Description	Crimes Recorded
Violence Against The Person	21
Misc Crimes Against Society	7
Public Order Offences	1
Sexual Offences	3

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.