HOCR recording of vehicle theft 550/2024

FOI Reference:  550/2024

Request:-

1. Please can you provide statistics for how many incidents were reported to DPP for "Theft of a vehicle" (any form of unauthorised taking of a vehicle), from 1st September 2023 to the end of April 2024.
2. Of that number, please provide how many of these cases were logged under the Home Office Offence Category of Vehicle Offences (specifically Vehicle Offence 48 - any Theft or Unauthorised Taking of a Motor Vehicle), as designated in the Principle Crime Lookup Table.)
3. And of those initial incidents recorded, a breakdown of

(a) how many led to successful police action,

(b) how many were investigated but police were unsuccessful in their attempts to solve the case and

(c) how many were not investigated at all (and if possible can you split that into when it was closed due to there wasn't enough evidence to commence an investigation, or there was but it was changed to "a civil matter").

(d) Please could you explain how Dyfed-Powys Police records, then audits, cases that are changed to a "non-crime" (for example when. The officer says it's a  "Civil Matter") when there is no code for a civil matter or similar within HOCR. 

 

Response to Q1

187

Response to Q2

105

Response to Q3a

27

(*30 investigations still ongoing so the above figure is likely to change)

Response to Q3b

71

(*30 investigations still ongoing so the above figure is likely to change)

Response to Q3c

They would all be investigated to a certain degree but that could be dependant on a number of factors. 25 investigations were closed due to evidential difficulties; however these could be finalised at any point of the investigation. We do not record outcome in relation to civil matters

Response to Q3d

In relation to Q3d for the above numbered FOI request my update :-

“In accordance with the Home Office Counting Rules (HOCR), notifiable offences are recorded as soon as practicable based on the information provided at the time of the report.  If during investigation it transpires that it is a “non-crime”, e.g. civil matter (which is not a notifiable offence in accordance with the HOCR) and there is sufficient additional verifiable information to confirm this, the officer in case can submit a cancellation request.  This is a process completed via Niche by the OIC providing the full additional verifiable information that makes it not a crime and tasking it to the relevant area for review and cancellation.  Cancellations can only be completed by Designated Decision Makers within the Crime Audit Team.

 

It should be noted that owing to the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such matters the information provided may or may not be accurate. It should be noted that for these reasons this Force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other response you may receive.  

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 17/06/2024)