Rape Allegations/Claims

Q1.The number of rape allegations/claims in 2003

A: 128 please note that this figure is from 1st April 03 up to 31st December 03 prior to this date information is not held.

Q2.The number of rape allegations/claims where alcohol was listed as a contributing factor in 2003

A: The classification that we can search on, that is attributed to rape is “committed under the influence of Alcohol or drugs” and with that marker attached we had 38 such cases again as above for the period 1st April to 31st December, as prior to this date information is not held.

Q3.The number of rape allegations/claims in 2008

A: 193

Q4.The number of rape allegations/claims where alcohol was listed as a contributing factor in 2008

A: 18 again the classification that we can search on, that is attributed to rape is “committed under the influence of Alcohol or drugs”

Please be aware that the above figures are for allegations/claims that may ultimately not all end up as substantiated rape crimes.

It should also be noted when looking at crime figures recovered over separate periods of time, that the results are reliant on the person responsible for data input, highlighting/marking/ticking the relevant areas from which data can be searched and recovered, this can be dependant on training and highlighted deficiencies being rectified and as such comparisons can be difficult and misleading without every crime being examined to ascertain if it indeed falls within the parameters of a specific request. As you can appreciate this is not an option given the volume of crime.

Police forces in the United Kingdom are routinely required to provide crime statistics to government bodies and the recording criteria is set nationally. However, the systems used for recording these figures are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the crime data. It should be noted that for these reasons this force's response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other response you may receive.

If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request you have the right to request that we review your case under our review procedure. If you decide to request that such a review is undertaken and following this process you are still dissatisfied you then have the right to direct your complaint to the Information Commissioner for consideration.

If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.,

Yours sincerely,

Jim Conlin
FOI Decision Maker
Public Information Unit