Private investigator link for stalking offence charge 2022 to date

Request

My query relates to instances where a perpetrator was charged with stalking in the last three years, (from beginning of 2022 to present day).

Please check your records for those charged with a stalking offense (including but not limited to: “Stalking without fear / alarm/ distress” or “Stalking involving fear of violence” or “Stalking involving serious alarm/ distress).

In those records please do a search for the key term “hired a private investigator” / “hired private investigators”/ “hiring a private investigator” AND “hired a private detective”/ “hired private detectives”/ “hiring a private detective”

I would like to know:

1. Broken down by year, if possible, how many times someone charged with a stalking offence, had hired a private investigator or private detective

2. If possible, a list of the names of those private investigators/ agencies

3. How often a private investigator has been charged with stalking or harassment

Response

I approached our Performance Review Unit for assistance with your request. An analyst within this unit has conducted a search of our Crime Management System - Connect which records complaints or allegations of those matters, which the Home Office specify should be recorded as 'crimes'. All our systems are designed and used first and foremost for Policing Purposes and have limited search capability. They provided the following information and explanation regarding their search criteria:

Question 1

Criteria used –

SYP & crime only filter

and       Incident Created Date is between 01/01/2022 and 31/08/2025

and       HO Sub Subgroup Name is equal to / is in STALKING

and       Detection Type is equal to / is in 01 - Charged/Summonsed

Question 2 & 3

The below searches were also conducted to assist with the further detail of this request however they all resulted in a nil return.  Please see below search criteria used.

No Results

              The specified criteria didn't result in any data.

SYP & crime only filter

and       Incident Created Date is between 01/01/2022 and 31/08/2025

and       HO Sub Subgroup Name is equal to / is in STALKING

and       Detection Type is equal to / is in 01 - Charged/Summonsed

and      

Initial MO is LIKE (pattern match) %hired a private investigator%

or           Initial MO is LIKE (pattern match) %hiring a private investigator%

or           Initial MO is LIKE (pattern match) %hired a private detective%

or           Initial MO is LIKE (pattern match) %hiring a private detective%

No Results

              The specified criteria didn't result in any data.

SYP & crime only filter

and       Incident Created Date is between 01/01/2022 and 31/08/2025

and       HO Subgroup Name is equal to / is in STALKING AND HARASSMENT

and       Detection Type is equal to / is in 01 - Charged/Summonsed

and       Occupation Level 2 is equal to / is in Private Detective