FOI 334-2025 / Mar 2025 / Thefts
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 334-2025
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 18/03/2025 as follows:
The number of thefts in pubs and on pub premises that occurred annually going back to 2018 - so one figure for each year.
Response:
Please be advised that the requested information is not centrally recorded and is therefore not held in a readily retrievable format. There is no specific flag or marker to easily identify whether a theft has taken place in a pub.
The closest search that can be conducted is to look at theft between 2018 and 2024 with the location premises type of ‘public house/bar/night club’.
This has returned 571 investigations. To determine whether the theft took place in a pub it would be necessary to review each and every one on an individual basis, at an approximate 5 mins per investigation.
571 theft offences at x 5 minutes per record = 47.5 hours
Therefore, the work required would exceed the amount to which we are legally required to respond i.e., the cost of locating and retrieving the information exceeds the ‘appropriate level’ as stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004. For Police forces in the UK, the ‘appropriate limit’ is up to 18 hours of work on one request.
In accordance with s12(1) 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; however, due to the number of records which would need to be individually reviewed, I am unable to suggest a way to reduce your request into one which could be managed 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