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Our reference: 01/FOI/24/005802/O
Date: 07/01/2025
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 are you able to provide the following:
For the years:
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
We are requesting information from all police forces via FOI requests. Specifically, we are interested in the figures/ information relating to:
Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) places two duties on public authorities. Unless exemptions apply, 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 Section 1(1)(b) is to disclose information that has been confirmed as being held. Where exemptions are relied upon Section 17 of FOIA requires that we provide the applicant with a notice which: a) states that fact b) specifies the exemption(s) in question and c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.
Year |
Total |
2023-2024 |
48 |
2022-2023 |
50 |
2021-2022 |
50 |
2020-2021 |
47 |
2019-2020 |
45 |
It has been determined that this information is exempt from disclosure by virtue of the following exemptions:
s24(1)
s31(1)(a)(b)
Both are prejudice-based and qualified exemptions, in which we are required to evidence harm and conduct a public interest test, to determine if the public interest outweighs the maintenance of the exemption applied
Evidence of Harm:
To disclose any details about the distribution of (number of) organised crime gangs (OCGs) below a force level total would undermine national security and operational law enforcement as well as risk prejudice to current investigations, some of which may be covert. Whilst there is a public interest in transparency to provide assurance that the Police Service is appropriately and effectively engaging with the threat from organised criminal gangs, this should be balanced against the need to protect sensitive police intelligence and ongoing operational activity.
Providing the requested information would reveal specific detail about the real-time police intelligence picture in relation to OCGs operating at low geographical areas across the force area. Release of such information to the public at large would enable those engaged in criminal gang activity, potentially including terrorism, to identify what the police may and may not know about organised crime gangs. Particularly in the event it was to be revealed that no information was held for a specific area, that would identify to offenders that individuals or criminal activity to which they may have links has gone undetected.
Furthermore, if disclosures were to be made by all forces for this national request, a low-level intelligence picture of organised criminal gang activity would be revealed which would expose the specific focus of policing targets, including terrorists, across the UK. The security of the country is of paramount importance and the police will not disclose any information that would undermine national security or operational policing.
Factors favouring disclosure:
Disclosure of the information would lead to a better-informed public. The public are entitled to know how public funds are spent especially with regards to safeguarding National Security.
Disclosure of the requested information would allow inferences to be made about the specific the nature of national security related activities linked to organised crime gangs which may or may not take place in low level geographical locations. This would enable criminal groups to take steps to counter-intelligence, and as such, disclosure would be damaging to National Security. Breaking down the OCGs by location would also render national security measures less effective. This would lead to the compromise of ongoing or future operations to protect the security or infrastructure of the UK and increase the risk of harm to the public.
Factors favouring disclosure:
Disclosure of the locations of organised crime groups would enable the public to have a better understanding of the effectiveness of the police and about how the police gather intelligence. It would greatly assist in the quality and accuracy of public debate, which could otherwise be steeped in rumour and speculation. It would also lead to a better-informed public. It would also allow the public to see where public funds have been spent and allow the Police service to appear more open and transparent.
Factors against disclosure:
Disclosure of the requested information could compromise police intelligence and subsequently the force’s ability to prevent and detect crime. Vulnerable areas could be identified with disclosure leading to an increase in criminal activity occurring in those areas, placing the public in harm’s way.
It has also been recorded that FOIA releases are monitored by criminals and terrorists and so to disclose information concerning the locations of Organised Crime Groups would lead to law enforcement being undermined. The Police Service is reliant upon all manner of techniques during operations and the public release of any modus operandi employed, if held, would prejudice the ability of the Police Service to conduct similar investigations.
Modern-day policing is intelligence led and the police share information with other law enforcement agencies as part of their investigation process. Disclosure here could hinder the prevention and detection of crime by undermining this partnership approach to investigations and law enforcement.
Whilst there is interest in the workings of police forces and promoting openness and transparency, any release of information which has the potential to disrupt police forces, resulting in further resourcing being allocated to areas unnecessarily, or risk endangering public safety cannot be considered to be in the public interest.
Having considered both sides of the public interest, it is considered that the balance favours non-disclosure of the information requested.
Year |
2019- 2020 |
2020- 2021 |
2021- 2022 |
2022- 2023 |
2023- 2024 |
Grand Total |
Number of Arrests for Supply Offences |
3,624 |
3,297 |
2,509 |
1,105 |
1,006 |
11,541 |
Please note: the data in the drug seizure return is caveated as it depends on both officers and the lab where it is sent for testing, completing the form promptly and correctly, before the data return is completed. Additionally, as this request covers such a long period, the data has been produced by several people and goes over a period involving system changeovers and so there are a few issues in the consistency due to these changes.
Types of Drug and Quantity Seized with an Associated Arrest for Supply Offences |
|
Type of Drug And Preparation |
Total Amount |
Alprazolam - Tablets |
1 |
Amphetamines - Any weighed items (grams) |
4012.414 |
Anabolic Steroids - Tablets |
53 |
Benzodiazepines - Any weighed items (grams) |
35.21 |
Benzodiazepines - Tablets |
2692 |
Buprenorphine (Subutex/Temgesic) - Tablets |
2 |
Cannabis - Any weighed items (grams) |
57771.741 |
Cannabis - Bags |
343 |
Cannabis - Cigarettes |
16 |
Cannabis - Plants |
617 |
Cannabis - Wraps |
10 |
Cannabis (Resin) - Any weighed items (grams) |
15.364 |
Cannabis (Resin) - Bags |
8 |
Cannabis Plant - Plants |
1009 |
Cocaine - Any weighed items (grams) |
20431.516 |
Cocaine - Bags |
53 |
Cocaine - Wraps |
24 |
Cocaine (in the form of "crack") - Any weighed items (grams) |
3333.77307 |
Cocaine (in the form of "crack") - Bags |
87 |
Cocaine (in the form of "crack") - Wraps |
356 |
Diazepam - Any weighed items (grams) |
105.87 |
Ecstasy f(MDMA) - Any weighed items (grams) |
204.999 |
Ecstasy (MDMA) - Tablets |
398 |
FLUALPRAZOLAM - Tablets |
1 |
Gabapentin - Tablets |
10 |
Heroin - Any weighed items (grams) |
15077.30373 |
Heroin - Bags |
65 |
Heroin - Wraps |
430 |
Ketamine - Any weighed items (grams) |
178.125 |
LSD - Wraps |
240 |
Methadone - Any weighed items (grams) |
1.07 |
Methadone - Liquid (ml) |
1489.115 |
Other Class A - Bags |
1 |
Other Class B - Any weighed items (grams) |
10184.572 |
Other Class B - Bags |
1 |
Other Class C - Any weighed items (grams) |
189.419 |
Other Class C - Capsules |
1194 |
Other Class C - Tablets |
268 |
Phenazepam - Tablets |
4 |
Pregabalin - Tablets |
255 |
PSA - Nitrous Oxide - Any weighed items (grams) |
1195 |
PSA - Nitrous Oxide - Liquid (ml) |
1200 |
PSA - Synthetic cannabinoids - Any weighed items (grams) |
4580.562 |
PSA - Synthetic cannabinoids - Bags |
3 |
Spice - Bags |
8 |
Temazepam - Tablets |
7 |
THC - Any weighed items (grams) |
38.67 |
THC - Liquid (ml) |
20 |
Tramadol - Tablets |
54 |
Unknown substance - Any weighed items (grams) |
22.15 |
Unknown substance - Bags |
115 |
Unknown substance - Liquid (ml) |
0.5 |
Unknown substance - Tablets |
35 |
Unknown substance - Wraps |
32 |
Zopiclone - Tablets |
3610 |
In addition to and irrespective of what may or may not be held, Humberside Police neither confirm nor deny any other information is held by virtue of the following exemptions:
s23(5) Information Supplied by, or concerning, certain Security Bodies s30(3) Investigations and Proceedings Conducted by Public Authorities s31(3) Law Enforcement
Section 23(5) is an absolute exemption and as such no public interest test is required.
Section 30(3) is a qualified, class-based exemption and as such there is no requirement to evidence harm however a test of public interest is required.
Section s31(3) is a qualified, class-based exemption and as such there is a requirement to evidence harm and complete a test of the public interest in confirmation or denial.
The confirmation or denial that any other information is held relating to synthetic opioids would identify whether or not Humberside Police has seen local level activity regarding its use and by association, its distribution.
The effects of synthetic opioids as recreational drugs are highly publicised, and they are all extremely potent and very dangerous. To confirm or deny that Humberside Police has had seizures of, or arrests related to any of these drugs would reveal information which could be used to build a picture as to where national and local investigations and operations are taking place in relation to distribution of these drugs.
To confirm or deny that any other information is held would enable a mosaic picture to form which would identify areas where these substances had been detected and where they had not. This national picture would highlight to criminals where there is a perceived greater or lesser investigative focus on this activity which in turn assist those involved in the criminal supply and/or distribution of the drug, including organised criminal gangs, to identify policing areas where criminal activity could be adjusted or relocated to better evade detection.
The distribution of drugs is not usually completed in isolation and more often than not, forms part of a wider organised crime network, which usually involve other serious crimes. Confirming or denying that any other information is held by Humberside Police would undermine any local level operations or national operations which may be taking place to target the serious organised distribution and use of synthetic opioids.
Factors favouring confirming or denying that information is held
To confirm or deny that any other information is held would enable the local community to understand whether any investigations have or are taking place surrounding these particular drugs. This would lead to an increase in understanding. It would also enable the public to understand whether resources are being allocated to combating the distribution of the drug locally.
Factors against confirming or denying that information is held
To confirm or deny that information is held would identify which force areas have located synthetic opioids and those which have not. Synthetic opioids are highly potent drugs and being able to map where they can be found, and by extension distributed across the country would undermine the police services ability to appropriately investigate crimes associated with its use and distribution. The confirmation or denial that any other information is held would undermine local and national level operations which may be taking place and would mean that those distributing the drug will avoid prosecution which would have a negative impact on local communities.
Factors favouring confirming or denying that information is held
The confirmation or denial that any other information is held would lead to a greater informed public both nationally and locally. It would allow people can take steps to safeguard themselves from exposure to this drug, if they know that it has been located locally.
Factors against confirming or denying that information is held
To confirm or deny any other information is held, would undermine any local or national level operations that may be or will be taking place in the future to combat this crime. Synthetic opioids are highly potent drugs and it is of paramount importance that the police service can investigate and disrupt the distribution of it throughout the country so that its severe impacts are not felt within our communities. To confirm or deny whether Humberside Police holds any other information in relation to synthetic opioids would not only affect local level policing decisions but could also have an impact nationally. This would mean that information is provided to those involved in its distribution and ultimately could mean that organised crime groups may adapt and change tact that would mean that the police service is placed at a disadvantage.
There is a public interest in knowing whether Humberside Police has or has not made arrests for, or seized any synthetic opioids so that communities are more aware and take steps to protect themselves. However, Humberside Police would not want to undermine any local or national operations which may be taking place to combat the distribution of these drugs. To confirm or deny any other information is held would not only provide information that would undermine local operations, but also any national ones which may take place. The information would directly relate to very specific intelligence and being able to map this across the country would be of use to criminal groups distributing this drug as it would give a picture as to which forces are aware whether it has synthetic opioids being distributed in its area.
Please note that police forces in the United Kingdom are routinely required to provide information and statistics to government bodies and the recording criteria is set nationally. However, the systems used for recording these figures are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. It should be noted that for these reasons this force’s response to your questions should not be used for the comparison purposes with any other response you may receive.
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or 01482 578662.
Information Governance Unit
Humberside Police