Request for policies on recording suspected and convicted criminals by their gender

Reference: 19027

Date Added: Monday, March 16, 2020

Category: Miscellaneous

Disclosure Details

Question

 

I have recently become aware that in some parts of the UK police forces are recording the sex of criminals as the sex they wish to identify with. As of October 2019 it was reported that up to 6 police forces (including Yorkshire and Thames Valley), disclosed under the freedom of information act that if someone is arrested or convicted of a crime, the official record will state the gender they chose to identify with, even if the nature of the crime is sexual e.g. rape.

 

 

 

I have looked on line to see what is available in relation to this, but have been unable to find any Gwent based guidelines or policies, or any Impact Assessment completed for such documents.  

 

 

 

I wondered if you would be in a position to confirm the policy around the recording of crime in Gwent?

 

 

Answer

 

Thank you for your recent request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

 

 

Two duties are placed on public authorities under Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). Notwithstanding applicable exemptions, the first duty at, Section 1(1) (a), is to confirm or deny whether the information specified in a request is held. The second duty at, Section1 (1) (b), is to disclose information that has been confirmed as being held. Under the provisions of those sections of the FOIA, we can confirm that the information you seek is not held by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent. Please find response below.

 

 

 

 

 

I have recently become aware that in some parts of the UK police forces are recording the sex of criminals as the sex they wish to identify with. As of October 2019 it was reported that up to 6 police forces (including Yorkshire and Thames Valley), disclosed under the freedom of information act that if someone is arrested or convicted of a crime, the official record will state the gender they chose to identify with, even if the nature of the crime is sexual e.g. rape.

 

 

 

I have looked on line to see what is available in relation to this, but have been unable to find any Gwent based guidelines or policies, or any Impact Assessment completed for such documents.  

 

 

 

I wondered if you would be in a position to confirm the policy around the recording of crime in Gwent?

 

 

 

No information held

 

 

 

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and the Gwent Police are two separate organisations.  The decision as to how this information is recorded would be a matter for the Chief Constable as it is operational in nature – the OPCC does not have access to this information.  As such you may wish to submit your request directly to the Force at the following link:  foi@gwent.pnn.police.uk

 

 

 

The Freedom of Information Act is a public disclosure regime, not a private regime. Any information disclosed under the Act is thereafter deemed to be in the public domain, and therefore freely available to the general public and will be published on the OPCC website.

 

 

 

I hope this information is satisfactory to your request however, should you feel dissatisfied with this response or the way in which your request was handled, information on the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent FOI Appeals Procedure can be found on our website: www.gwent.pcc.police.uk/en/transparency/know-your-rights/your-information-rights/freedom-of-information/appeals-process/