Public indecency
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/25/7979
Version Date: 10/07/2025
The Performance & Analysis Department have provided the following information.
Data Source
Crimes recorded on crime information system - NICHE
Data Processing:
Qliksense Crimes & Outcomes Report
Filtered on Home Office Codes:
- 066/21 Act of outraging public decency - common law
- 088/09 Exposure - SOA 2003
- 099/99 - Public Nuisance - indecent exposure
Filtered on Crimed Date: 01/01/2022 - 31/12/2024
Caveats/Limitations
No crimes/Cancelled Crimes excluded
Please provide the following details for all recorded incidents of public indecency from 1st January 2022 to the present date:
1. A breakdown of the nature of each public indecency offense, including but not limited to:
- Public sexual acts (including specifics such as intercourse, oral, or anal sex)
- Indecent exposure/flashing
- Public masturbation
- Other forms of public indecency (please specify)
|
Offence |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Act of outraging public decency - common law |
132 |
149 |
144 |
|
Exposure - SOA 2003 |
213 |
233 |
288 |
|
Public Nuisance - indecent exposure |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
349 |
382 |
432 |
2. The date and time of each recorded incident.
|
Time |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
00:00 to 05:59 |
24 |
22 |
45 |
|
06:00 to 11:59 |
91 |
96 |
90 |
|
12:00 to 17:59 |
148 |
216 |
242 |
|
18:00 to 23:59 |
86 |
98 |
107 |
|
Total |
349 |
382 |
432 |
3.The specific location of each incident (e.g., park, street name, shopping area, public transport).
|
Location |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Alley |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Beach hut |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
Bridge |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Commercial - Car park |
0 |
6 |
6 |
|
Commercial - Other |
0 |
1 |
4 |
|
Dwelling |
48 |
46 |
63 |
|
Education |
4 |
3 |
3 |
|
Garden |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hallway |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hospitality |
11 |
10 |
10 |
|
Leisure |
3 |
4 |
5 |
|
Medical |
11 |
7 |
10 |
|
Moving vehicle |
2 |
10 |
10 |
|
Not Recorded |
89 |
118 |
76 |
|
Public building |
4 |
7 |
12 |
|
Public/open place |
155 |
156 |
225 |
|
Shop |
16 |
11 |
5 |
|
Travel |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
Total |
349 |
382 |
432 |
4. The outcome of each case, including:
- Arrests made
- Cautions issued
- Charges brought and case outcomes (conviction, dropped, ongoing investigation, etc.)
|
Outcome |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Action Against Suspect Not in Public Interest |
10 |
24 |
21 |
|
Action taken by another body/agency |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Adult Caution |
10 |
5 |
9 |
|
Below Age of Criminal Responsibility |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Charged/Summonsed |
43 |
49 |
35 |
|
Community Resolution |
3 |
2 |
4 |
|
Diversionary, educational or intervention activity |
2 |
7 |
6 |
|
Evidential Difficulties - Victim Declines |
3 |
5 |
14 |
|
Investigation Complete: No Suspect - Case Closed |
141 |
132 |
136 |
|
Investigation Ongoing |
4 |
16 |
20 |
|
Not in the Public Interest - CPS |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Not in the Public Interest - Police |
2 |
4 |
8 |
|
Offender Died |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Pending CSU Outcome |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
Suspect Identified - Evidential Difficulties |
104 |
92 |
114 |
|
Suspect too Ill |
6 |
7 |
9 |
|
Victim no Support |
16 |
33 |
47 |
|
Victim too Ill or Dead |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Youth Caution |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Total |
349 |
382 |
432 |