FOI 365-2025 / Mar 2025 / Prostitution
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 365-2025
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 25th March 2025 as follows:
- What is the number of prostitution cases taken to court each year between 2014-2024 (in the last 10 years)? (and with a breakdown of the specific charges)
- How many people have been arrested for soliciting sex work each year between 2014-2024 (in the last 10 years)?
- How many prostitute cautions were issued each year between 2014-2024 in? (In the last 10 years)
- How many reports of violence/abuse against sex workers were filed each year between 2014-2024 (in the last 10 years)?
- Are there any problem profiles in relation to sex work or soliciting sex work, and could access to these be made available?
Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Response: Due to changes in systems, it is not possible to retrieve annual information prior to 2018; however, with regard to records held since that date, I must advise that the information requested at Q4 is not centrally recorded and not available in a readily retrievable format. There is no marker or identifier within the Crime Recording System to denote where a violent crime relates to a sex worker, and in order to ascertain where this is a factor, it would be necessary to review all relevant crimes, including but not limited to, Assault with Injury and Sexual Offences, on an individual basis. This would involve scrutinising thousands of records which would take an inordinate amount of time and would be above the amount to which we are legally required to respond ie, the work involved in locating, retrieving and recording the information requested far exceeds the cost threshold (£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 s12 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 suggesting ways to revise your request where possible; however, due to the volume of records which would need to be reviewed, I am unable to suggest a way to revise this element of your request into one which could be dealt with within the fees limit. However, I can advise that were you to resubmit a request, omitting Q4, then we may be able to conduct searches for Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q5 since 1st January 2018.
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