FOI 586/26

Request

 

Please provide the following information for the calendar year 2025, from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

 

If full-year 2025 data is not yet available, please provide the latest available 2025 data and state the date range covered.

 

For sexual offences where an individual was charged, summonsed, postal requisitioned, or otherwise proceeded against, please provide:

 

1. The total number of cases/offences/proceedings recorded.

 

2. A breakdown by nationality as recorded by the force.

 

3. A summary breakdown showing:

 

1. British national;
2. foreign national;
3. unknown / not recorded / refused.

 

4. Where held, a breakdown by detailed offence type or Home Office offence classification.

 

5. A short explanation of the counting basis used, for example whether the figures count individuals, arrests, offences, custody records, charges, proceedings, or another category.

 

Where any nationality has fewer than 5 results, please suppress the exact figure and mark it as "<5".

 

Response

 

We consulted with our Business Intelligence Analysts who have provided the following information in relation to your request.

 

Question 1

 

Positive Outcomes	Count
01: Charged/summonsed	363
01a: Charged/summonsed [alternate]	25
02: Caution - youths	4
03: Caution - adults	11
08: Community resolution	34
Grand Total	437

Question 2

 

Nationality	Total
Afghanistan	<5
Bangladesh	<5
Brazil	<5
Chad	<5
England	9
Eritrea	<5
Germany	<5
India	7
Iran, Islamic republic of	<5
Ireland	<5
Jamaica	<5
Jordan	<5
Kenya	<5
Kuwait	<5
Libya, State of	<5
Nigeria	<5
Not recorded	26
Pakistan	<5
Poland	<5
Scotland	<5
Somalia	<5
Spain	<5
Sudan	<5
Syrian Arab Republic	<5
UK	193
UK;Bangladesh	<5
UK;England	<5
UK;Wales	52
Wales	107
Grand Total	445

 

 

Please note that some crimes will have more than one offender therefore the grand total for this table is higher than that of question 1.

 

Questions 3 and 4

 

Please see attached document entitled ‘Response Data 586_26’.

 

Question 5

 

Offender data for rape and sexual offences has been retrieved to answer your request. The response to question one is a distinct count of crimes whereas the responses to questions 2, 3 and 4 equate to a distinct number of offenders as there can be more than one offender involved in a crime.

 

In relation to your request for a breakdown of data by ‘British National’, ‘Foreign National’ and ‘Unknown’,  where the count is lower than five, this has been considered, and we are not obliged to provide the information requested.

 

Section 1(1)(a) requires, unless exemptions apply, the authority to confirm or deny whether information is held. The second duty, under Section 1(1)(b), is to disclose any information held (again, unless exemptions apply).

 

Where exemptions do apply, Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires South Wales Police, to provide applicants with a notice which:

 

(a)     states that fact,

(b)     specifies the exemption in question and

(c)     states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

 

In relation to this part of your request, the following exemption applies:

 

Section 40(2) - Personal Information

 

Section 40(2) is an absolute class-based exemption and therefore the authority is not required to consider the public interest in disclosure.

 

The Data Protection Act covers processing of personal data about a living individual. Personal data means data which relate to a living individual who can be identified-

 

(a)    from those data, or

(b)    from those data and other information, which is in the possession of, or is likely to come into the possession of, the data controller or any other person in respect of the individual.

 

Information will “relate to” a person if it is about them, linked to them, has some biographical significance for them, is used to inform decisions affecting them, has them as its main focus or impacts on them in any way.

 

Due to the low numbers involved, this could identify an individual which would constitute a disclosure of personal data. We have therefore supplied you with figures showing ‘< 5’ where there are less than five records.

 

In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a refusal notice for this part of your request.

 

South Wales Police continues to prioritise its response to allegations of sexual offences and actively encourages victims to have confidence in reporting these crimes. Our focus, together with our partner agencies is firmly on victim’s needs and improving outcomes whilst increasing the number of offenders brought to justice. South Wales Police have dedicated rape investigation teams, consisting of 114 staff through the force. South Wales Police were a pathfinder force for Operation Soteria, and we remain committed to embedding the national operating model to improve our service to victims and judicial outcomes for suspects.

Staff who deal with cases of this nature undertake a comprehensive training and accreditation process to ensure a professional investigation and the best outcome for victims.

 

Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete however please note that the detail collected to respond specifically to your request is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes, and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when interpreting those data.

 

The figures provided therefore are our best interpretation of relevance of data to your request, but you should be aware that the collation of figures for ad hoc requests may have limitations, and this should be taken into account when those data are used.