The information is not held centrally in the format requested. Centrally held information relates to the number of absent without leave incidents and not to the number of personnel. Additionally, data are only available by month in respect of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. In respect of the Army, only the year to date total is held centrally and to obtain this information by month will require a manual search of records which could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The available figures are provided in the following table.
AWOL statistics are recorded by the number of incidences reported, because the figures may include service personnel who have been AWOL on more than one occasion. Furthermore, following the reporting of an incidence of AWOL, information may later come to light of extenuating circumstances for that unauthorised absence, such as compassionate, hospitalisation or travel delays beyond the individual's control. In such cases a service person may not be formally charged but the incidence is still recorded.
Royal Navy Army Royal Air Force January 5 — 1 February 10 — 0 March 10 — 0 April 5 — 0 May 10 — 0 June 10 — 0 July 10 — 0 August 5 — 1 September 10 — 0 October 10 — 1 November 5 — 3 December 0 — 0 Total 85 12,110 6 1 This is the number of recorded incidences, not the number of people AWOL or the number of charges brought. Note: Figures for the Royal Navy and Army are rounded to the nearest five.