Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Ref: FOI/22024 

RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST 

I am writing to confirm that the West Midlands Fire Service has now completed its search for the information you requested further to your freedom of information request. 

Please find below a summary of our findings. 

Request 

Please can you tell me: 
1. Between 1st January 2016 and 1st January 2022, how many fire fighters working for your department were reported for sexual misconduct. 

Please could this be broken down by the day, month, year as well as the type of allegations (eg sexual harassment, indecent exposure, an inappropirate relationship with a member of the public they dealt with while on duty, rape) 

2. Please could I have details of the outcomes of these allegations e.g. how many each year led to no further action/ internal investigation/police investigation/prosecution etc. 

Reply 

Due there being less than 5 allegations within the years that you have requested and in order to protect the identity of the data subjects involved, we are unable to provide any information as details about individual allegations are classed as personal data and therefore attracts a Section 40(2) exemption under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Disclosure of the information may cause damage and distress to the individuals involved so would therefore be unfair to disclose it and contravene principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.  

If you have any queries about this freedom of information request, please contact us.  Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications. 

For service complaints, issues or comments regarding this request please contact The Public Relations Department, West Midlands Fire Service, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW 

Further information concerning Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner website at either the following link: https://ico.org.uk/ or at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.