FOI 1319-2025/26- RSO's missing

Request:

I am seeking updated figures relating to registered sex offenders, following data previously obtained by BBC news via FOI requests that were reported on in March 2023 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64624921).

I would like to request the most recent available data between 2021 to present on:

Q1. The number of registered sex offenders recorded as:

• Missing, or
• Wanted for arrest

Q2. The number of registered sex offenders who have:

• Notified police of a name change or alias

Q3. The number of offences relating to:

• Breaches of notification requirements

If possible, please provide:

• Annual figures broken down by year
• Data in the same format/categories as previously supplied in response to FOI requests used in the BBC report

Response: 

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police.

I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police. 

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the following information to you.

Q1. The number of nominals registered as wanted/missing in NYP is 13. I am exempting the yearly breakdown pursuant to Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please see the exemption explanation below.

*Please note these numbers do not include any nominals that are now residing in NYP but were not at the time of them being wanted/missing. It also does not include any nominals that were registered as wanted/missing in NYP but have since moved to a different area.

Q2. There are 999 nominals listed with an alias, due to recording methods this cannot be broken down by year.

*Please note this may include individuals who have registered their alias when in other forces and will not include any individuals that have registered an alias whilst in NYP but have since moved forces. This number is also quite misleading, as an ‘alias’ on the system can include when a middle name is/isn’t recorded, incorrect spellings, nicknames, shortening of names (i.e. Joe/Joseph) etc. They will not all indicate a complete name change.

Q3. Please see the table below the number of crimes under Section 91 of the Sexual Offences act 2003 – offences relating to notification, between 01 January 2021 and 10 April 2026, broken down by calendar year.

Exemption Explanation

Section 40 – Personal Information

Where an individual can be identified by such data, releasing it would clearly breach the first data protection principle of being ‘fair’ to the data subject.

Section 17 of the Act requires North Yorkshire Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

Section 40(2) is an absolute class based exemption, which does not require a public interest test, but requires the balancing of the legitimate interests of the public against the interests of the individual under the first Data Protection Principle; in that processing of personal data must be lawful and fair (DPA 2018 35(1), EUGDPR Article 5(1)).

This exemption applies because the right given under the FOI Act to request official information held by public authorities does not apply to the personal data of third parties where disclosure of that information would not be fair to the individual, and where there is no legitimate public interest in disclosure.

In all the circumstances of the case it has been determined that the duty to the individual under the Data Protection Act 2018 & EU General Data Protection Regulations, and the public interest in maintaining the exemption from disclosure of personal information held by the force in such instances, outweighs the public interest in disclosure.  In this instance, personal information can only be disclosed to the individual concerned. 

Releasing personal details to a person other than the data subject would not only breach the data subject’s Data Protection rights it may also breach the obligations placed on an authority under the European Convention on Human Rights

Pursuant to Section 17(1) of the Act this letter acts as a refusal notice under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to your request.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.