----- Original Message
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From: judith.frost@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
To: michael.wiffen@mensaid.com
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2006 2:58 PM
Subject: Freedom of Information request 388/06
Dear Mr Wiffen,
I write in connection with
your request for information dated 3rd November, concerning domestic
violence victims.
Your request for information
has now been considered and I am not obliged to supply the information
you have requested.
Our domestic violence incidents
are not split into male and female victims. Each case is recorded
and treated individually and in line with the force policy, regardless
of the sex of the victim.
The only way to determine
the figure would be to individually interrogate each form submitted
to the domestic violence unit (DVU). During 2005/6 alone, officers
submitted a total of 16,791 forms to the DVU. Naturally, interrogating
these files would be extremely time consuming. 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 accordance with the
Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts as a refusal notice.
However, I have included
the South Wales Police domestic violence incident statistics which
includes a breakdown to divisional level. As mentioned, this does
not differentiate between males and females. I hope they will be of
some help.
These figures relate to
incidents where there is a perception, by anyone concerned, that domestic
violence is a factor. However, if a power of arrest exists there is
no specific crime of 'domestic violence' to allow us to search our
Crime Information System (CIS). The arrested persons could be charged
with any number of offences from harassment, violence, threats, rape
etc. and the entry on CIS would relate to these offences.
I would like to take this
opportunity to thank you for your interest in South Wales Police.
Judith Frost
Freedom of Information Officer
01656 869439
Int Ext 20955
