FOI 924-2024 / Oct 2024 / Public nuisance
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 924-2024
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 22nd October 2024 as follows:
For every calendar year from 1 January 2012 to 31 July 2024 inclusive, I would like:
- The number of people arrested for the common law offence of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance
- Of these arrests, the number that resulted in a charge
- I would like this data broken down by month — I.e. January 2012, February 2012, etc.
Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in providing the response to your request and for any inconvenience that this may have caused you. Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Response: Please be advised that the requested information is not available in a readily retrievable format. The reason for arrest (RFA) in relation to conspiracy to cause a public nuisance are recorded on the Custody System as ‘other – Not listed – PNC Recordable’. During the period 1st January 2018 to 31st July 2024 there are 847 arrests recorded where the reason for arrest is ‘other – Not listed – PNC Recordable’. In order to ascertain the number of those which are in relation to conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, it would be necessary to review each and every one on an individual basis and an estimate of the cost involved is set out below:
847 offences @ 3 minutes per offence = 2541 minutes / 60 = 42 hours
42 hours @ £25 per hour = £1050
Therefore, the work involved in locating and retrieving the requested information exceeds the cost threshold of £450, which equates to 18 hours work at a standard rate of £25 per hour, as stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004.
In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts as a Refusal Notice for this request.
In accordance with Section 16 of the Act, I have a duty to provide advice and assistance in relation to refining your request; however, due to the volume of records which would require review, I am unable to suggest a way to do this within the fees limit.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB