Complaints about sex in a public place
| Authority | Isle of Man Constabulary |
|---|---|
| Date received | 2019-01-17 |
| Outcome | Some information sent but not all held |
| Outcome date | 2019-01-21 |
| Case ID | 697666 |
Summary
The requester asked for annual statistics on complaints and arrests regarding public sexual activity from 1998 to 2018, split by location. The Isle of Man Constabulary responded that they do not hold data in the requested format or for the full time period, providing only general arrest and event figures from 2011 to 2018.
Key Facts
- The Constabulary does not categorize offences specifically as 'sexual activity in public places' or split them by location (toilets vs. other areas).
- Data for the requested period of 1998 to 2010 is not held in the requested format.
- Statistics provided cover the years 2011 to 2018 only.
- The authority stated that extracting specific data would require manually reviewing each record.
- Some offences like 'Gross Indecency' and 'Buggery' are recorded but not specifically as public sexual activity events.
Data Disclosed
- 1998
- 2018
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 737
- 194
- 142
- 96
- 103
- 55
- 47
- 48
- 52
- 3
- 2
- 4
- 16
- 241
- 45
- 36
- 91
- 69
- 30
- 6
- 3
- 2019-01-17
- 2019-01-21
- 697666
Exemptions Cited
- Information not held or cannot be found after taking reasonable steps
Original Request
I would like to have data on the number of complaints received by the Police of people engaging in sexual activity in a public place. I would also like data on the number of arrests that have been made of people engaging in sexual activity in a public space. I would like to have this data split into two categories: complaints received and arrests made relating to sexual activity in public toilets and complaints and arrests in all other public areas. I would like to have this information provided to me as a total number of complaints received and arrests made each year from the year 1998 up to and including 2018. Thank you for your help.
Data Tables (2)
| Arrests | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POA 3 (Harassment Alarm and Distress) | 194 | 142 | 96 | 103 | 55 | 47 | 48 | 52 | 737 |
| Gross Indecency | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 16 | ||
| outraging/offending public decency (none, though rare charges have been made for Offend Against Public Decency no arrests made for these reasons – arrests reasons include Indecent Exposure and POA 3) – these arrests with charges are shown in totals here | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Events | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POA 3 (Harassment Alarm and Distress) – not recorded by this description prior to 2015 | 45 | 36 | 91 | 69 | 241 | ||||
| Gross Indecency - not recorded as an event closure | |||||||||
| Indecent Exposure | 3 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 30 | |
| Indecency | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | |||||
| Indecency Between Males | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| Buggery | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |||||
| outraging/offending public decency - not recorded as an event closure |
Full Response Text
Isle of Man Constabulary Freedom of Information Department of Home Affairs Headquarters Tromode Road, Douglas Isle of Man, IM2 5PA Tel: +44(0)1624631394 Email: Mark.Britton@gov.im Our ref: 697666 18 January 2019
Dear Mr
We write further to your request which was received on 17 January 2019 and which states:
"I would like to have data on the number of complaints received by the Police of people engaging in sexual activity in a public place. I would also like data on the number of arrests that have been made of people engaging in sexual activity in a public space. I would like to have this data split into two categories: complaints received and arrests made relating to sexual activity in public toilets and complaints and arrests in all other public areas. I would like to have this information provided to me as a total number of complaints received and arrests made each year from the year 1998 up to and including 2018. Thank you for your help."
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. The Isle of Man Constabulary does not categorise the offences in the way or in the described in the request. Some statistics can be published.
I have detailed below the information that is held:
The difficulty in publishing exact figures is in what is held as a descriptor of “public order” offences as the ones held relate to all public order
offences and these are not held or defined as “sexual. The Constabulary would have to go into each record and try and ascertain whether
they fit your other criteria.
Arrests
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
total
POA 3 (Harassment Alarm and
Distress)
194
142
96
103
55
47
48
52
737
Gross Indecency
3
2
4
2
3
2
16
outraging/offending public decency
(none, though rare charges have
been made for Offend Against
Public Decency no arrests made
for these reasons – arrests reasons
include Indecent Exposure and POA
3) – these arrests with charges are
shown in totals here
1
1
1
1
4
Events
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
total
POA 3 (Harassment Alarm and
Distress) – not recorded by this
description prior to 2015
45
36
91
69
241
Gross Indecency - not recorded as
an event closure
Indecent Exposure
3
9
6
2
3
2
5
30
Indecency
1
3
4
8
Indecency Between Males
1 2
3 Buggery 1
3 2
6
outraging/offending public decency -
not recorded as an event closure
Gross indecency also covers offences against women, women on women (though rare) i.e. not only men on men. Some offences may for
example be against family members – i.e. buggery and indeed gross indecency. Indecency between males may also have some issues
without looking at each one. Indecent exposure can be complete (and this comes into other offences) may well be complete in urinating in
public. So the figures we could provide would be very general and we simply do not have the kind of the detail you are asking for.
Please quote the reference number 697666 in any future communications.
Your right to request a review
If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.
An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review .
If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this.
Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond
as soon as the review has been concluded.
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1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or
2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation,
conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any
subsequent decision.
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Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.
I will now close your request as of this date.
Yours sincerely