FOI 327/25

REQUEST

Please provide the following information:

1) The number of deaths of women referred by the force to be considered for domestic homicide reviews/domestic abuse related death reviews between 2019-2024

2) How many of the referrals identified in response to question 1 resulted in the review process being undertaken and how many did not

3) For each death identified in response to question 1, please provide the number of DASH assessments completed by the force in relation to the deceased prior to their death and the risk level identified in each assessment

4) For each death identified in response to question 1, please provide the number of occasions on which the deceased was discussed at the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference/High Risk Daily Meeting/Daily Risk Assessment Management Meeting or equivalent meeting prior to their death. 

RESPONSE

Your request for information has now been considered and I am not obliged to supply the information you have requested.       

In relation to your request the following exemption applies:

Section 12 – Exemption where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit.

We consulted with our Crime and Criminal Justice Department who have advised that there is no method by which we can easily retrieve information from our systems to answer this request. In relation to Q’s 2, 3 & 4 each occurrence and PPN and Personal Dossier for every victim would need to be reviewed. Some victims had hundreds of occurrences and some little to no records, but the average is an unmanageable demand in the timescale.

Whilst I cannot quantify exactly how long this would take it would most certainly exceed the 18 hours stipulated by the regulations.

It is estimated that the cost of providing you with the information is above 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.

In the case of the police service, the appropriate limit is £450 which has been calculated to equate to a total of 18 hours of work.

If any part of the request exceeds the fees limit, then Section 12 applies to the whole request.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts as a refusal notice.

Excess cost removes the forces obligation under the Freedom of Information Act, however under Section 16 – Duty to provide advice and assistance, an authority is required to offer an applicant the opportunity to redefine their request within the cost limit. If you were to remove Q’s 2, 3 & 4 we may be able to assist with the remainder of your request.