Reports of cyberstalking 2013 to 2023 (FOI)

Request

Please advise of the following figures broken down annually and in table format:

• How many reports of cyberstalking the States of Jersey Police have received since 2013? 
• How many perpetrators have been charged with offences relating to cyberstalking? 
• How many cases have involved the use of smart devices to facilitate stalking, primarily Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices? 
  

Response

Cyberstalking is the use of the Internet, email or other electronic communications to stalk someone. Cyberstalking is not in itself a specific offence in Jersey law; however, it can be a factor when considering an offence under the Crime (Disorderly Conduct and Harassment) (Jersey) Law 2008. 

In order to accurately respond, the States of Jersey Police would need to manually check nearly 2000 such records to establish whether there is a “cyber” element.  

This would take significantly more than the 12.5 hours limit allowed and your request is therefore refused under Article 16 of the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2011.

It has been determined that to conduct this analysis would exceed the 12.5-hour timescale prescribed in the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014 therefore Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Article applied

Article 16 - A scheduled public authority may refuse to supply information if cost excessive

(1) A scheduled public authority that has been requested to supply information may refuse to supply the information if it estimates that the cost of doing so would exceed an amount determined in the manner prescribed by Regulations.