FOI 546/26
Request
Please provide the following information for the latest five reporting years (or, if cost exemptions prohibit it, the latest 12-month reporting period for which data is available):
- The number of individuals recorded as suspects against offences flagged as involving child sexual exploitation (CSE).
- Of those individuals in Q1:
- A) the number for whom checks were carried out against international policing databases (Interpol, Europol or other relevant international databases).
- B) The number for whom such checks resulted in a positive match indicating that they were already recorded on such systems in connection with criminality or policing intelligence.
- Of those individuals in Q1, how many were in recorded in cases that contained one or more of the following words in your force’s records: "vape", "vapes", "vape shop" (total number, no breakdown by specific search term is required)
- Of those individuals in Q1, how many were in recorded in cases that contained one or more of the following words in your force’s records: “convenience store”, “corner shop”, “off licence”, “mini market” and “mini mart” (total number, no breakdown by specific search term is required)
Response
Question 1
South Wales Police do hold information in relation to this part of your request.
A search has been completed using our crime and incident recording system (Niche RMS) for the number of offenders linked to a crime occurrence that has a ‘CSE qualifier’ recorded between 1st January 2021 and 31st December 2025. This search retrieved 314 offenders.
Offenders include all those linked to an occurrence using the following person classifications:
|
Niche Person Classification |
|
FPF, Fixed penalty - fine registered |
|
CAU, Cautioned |
|
CHA, Charged |
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CHR, Charges recommended |
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DOT, Detected - other |
|
FIX, Fixed penalty |
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FWR, Final warning |
|
RPM, Reprimanded |
|
SMS, Reported for Summons |
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TIC, TIC |
|
WIH, Warned - 1st instance harassment |
|
WVB, Warned - vehicular antisocial behaviour |
|
YOF, Young offender |
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YRD, Youth Restorative Disposal (YRD) |
|
DAS, DAS (Driver Awareness Scheme) |
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VBW, RTC - Verbal warning |
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ZBL, Street bail |
|
YC1, Youth caution |
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COC, Conditional caution |
|
YCC, Youth conditional caution |
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ARD, Adult restorative disposal |
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ARR, Arrested |
|
NFA, No further action |
|
PSU, Possible suspect |
|
SUB, Subject |
|
SUS, Suspect |
Question 2
South Wales Police can neither confirm nor deny that it holds the information you have requested with regards to ‘checks against international policing databases’. In this case, the duty to confirm or deny under S1(1)(a) does not apply, by virtue of the following exemptions:
Section 23(5): Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security matters. (Q2)
Section 31(3) Law Enforcement (Q2, 3 and 4)
Section 23 is a class based absolute exemption and there is no requirement to evidence the harm or consider the public interest.
Section 31(3) is both prejudice based and qualified; the harm (prejudice) in confirming or denying should be evidenced, the public interest considered and both articulated to the applicant.
Harm
South Wales Police is charged with enforcing the law, detecting and preventing crime, and protecting the communities we serve. Confirming or denying whether any information is held would impact on the effectiveness of police investigations, thereby hindering the prevention and detection of crime.
Public Interest Test - Section 31(3)
Factors favouring confirming or denying whether the information is held
The Police Service is charged with enforcing the law, preventing and detecting crime and protecting the communities we serve and there is a public interest in the transparency of policing operations.
Factors favouring neither confirming nor denying whether the information is held
There is an inherently strong public interest in public authorities carrying out investigations to prevent and detect crime. South Wales Police need to be allowed to investigate crime effectively and ensure that offenders are brought to justice. To confirm or deny that any information is held could compromise law enforcement. Modern-day policing is intelligence led and the Police Service may need to utilise information provided covertly as part of the intelligence gathering process. The Police Service will never confirm intelligence which could undermine any investigation.
To disclose this information could enable those with criminal intentions to change plans if it was known that the police were aware of them and their activities. It could disrupt any covert operations and ultimately lead to more crime.
Balance Test
Whilst there is public interest in the transparency of policing there is a very strong public interest in safeguarding the integrity of law enforcement methods in this area.
To disclose this information could enable those with criminal intentions to change plans if it was known that the police were aware of them and their activities. It could disrupt any covert operations and ultimately lead to more crime.
The strongest reasons against confirmation or denial of any information being held, is to ensure that policing and security measures are not rendered less effective through disclosure, therefore hindering the effective delivery of operational law enforcement. Therefore, for these issues the balancing test for confirming or denying whether we hold any information is not made out.
Questions 3 and 4
I have considered this part of your request and I am not obliged to supply the information you have requested. The following exemption applies:
Section 31(1)(a)(b) – Law Enforcement
Section 31(1)(a)(b) is a qualified prejudice-based exemption, and the legislators accept that there may be harm if released. The authority is therefore required to articulate the harm that may be caused and consider the public interest arguments for and against the disclosure of the information.
Harm
A disclosure in response to a Freedom of Information request is not a disclosure to the individual applicant but a release into the public domain. It is important that a Police Force safeguards its effective and efficient service and does not disclose information that could undermine that.
Disclosure of the requested information would reveal our tactical capabilities and compromise the prevention or detection of crime and the apprehension or prosecution of offenders. Disclosure would reveal investigative focus areas or lines of enquiry, particularly in relation to serious and sensitive offending. This would hinder future investigations by assisting those who are intent on undertaking criminal activity.
Factors favouring disclosure
By disclosing the requested information, this would provide openness and transparency and better awareness to the public.
Factors against disclosure
The security of the public is of paramount importance and the Police Service will not divulge information if to do so could compromise law enforcement.
Balance Test
Whilst there is public interest in police transparency, there is stronger public interest in safeguarding information which could assist those who wish to disrupt the police service.
Therefore, it is our opinion that for these issues the balance test lies in favour of withholding the information.
In accordance with the Act, this letter acts as a refusal notice for this part of your request.