Has Richmond been visited by ghosts, werewolves, witches, aliens or zombies?

The question remains a mystery after the Metropolitan Police (MPS) rejected a Freedom of Information request on how many times police in the borough were called to sightings of the scary creatures in the past five years.

In a response to this newspaper, an MPS spokesman said it would not be possible to respond to the request for information because it exceeded the cost threshold and there is no management information marker to search for the creatures on the MPS reporting systems.

The cost threshold to gain information under the Freedom of Information Act is set by central government at £450 - the estimated cost of one person searching for 18 hours, at a rate of £25-an-hour.

The MPS spokesman added: "There are about 100,000 calls per borough per year and we would have to read every call from Richmond borough in the period requested to determine if it is related to werewolves, etc."

Police were also unable to say how many people were arrested in the borough for wasting police time with regards to reports of the fantasy characters in the past five year.

But according to police, 12 people were arrested in the years 2009 to 2013 for wasiting police time.

  • Have you contacted the police about a sighting of one of the above? Email the newsdesk at laura.proto@london.newsquest.co.uk.