Crimes at places of worship 235/2026

FOI Reference: 235/2026

Request

Further to your refusal notice under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to refine my request to focus on system capability and policy guidance rather than raw crime numbers.

Please provide the following information:

1. Confirmation of whether your crime recording system (e.g., NICHE, Athena, or other) has a field for “location type” and whether “religious site” or “church/religious building” is an available option.
2. Copies of any policy documents, guidance notes, or instructions provided to officers or staff on recording crimes at places of religious worship (churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, gurdwaras, or other).

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Response Q1

We have an available option for location subtype on the Occurrence MO for “Church/Religious Building” on our Niche crime recording system.  However, this field is not a mandatory field filled out by officers on the system.

Response Q2

Policy is available via the following link externally on the force website:-

Crime/Incident Recording/Investigation Policy | Dyfed-Powys Police

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 12/03/2026)