Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland

The complainant requested information held by PONI relating to an inspection undertaken by the Office of Surveillance Commissioners (the OSC). PONI refused to provide this citing the exemptions at sections 31(1)(a) and 31(1)(g) (law enforcement). Following the Commissioner’s intervention PONI disclosed some of the requested information to the complainant. The Commissioner found that the remaining withheld information was exempt under the provisions claimed, and that the public interest in maintaining the exemptions outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information. Therefore the Commissioner does not require any steps to be taken.