29 August 2023
Your request
I write to make an updated FOI request on the number of reports of sexual abuse against disabled adults received by this authority between May 2022 and June 2023.
I would like the information to be broken down into the following:
i) The number of reports of sexual abuse against disabled adults, broken down into months, and a grand total;
ii) In each case, whether the victim had a learning disability or physical disability, or both;
iii) Whether each report resulted in an investigation, and the outcome of said investigation;
Please provide the information in Excel format.
Our response
Please see the attached spreadsheet; and note that further to the note which advises; a breakdown of this data by month has not been provided, due to restrictions around reporting on case numbers below threshold, in line with data protection principles applied by the Council:
We are unable to provide precise figures when these are five or less due to the risk that individuals will be identified, as we are required to protect their identity under the Data Protection Act.
In such circumstances sections 40(2) and (3) of the Freedom of Information Act apply. In this case, our view is that disclosure would breach the first data protection principle.
This states that personal data should be processed fairly and lawfully. It is the fairness aspect of this principle which, in our view, would be breached by disclosure. In such circumstances section 40 confers an absolute exemption on disclosure. There is, therefore, no public interest test to apply.