Northern Ireland Prison Service

The complainant requested information relating to the ‘Strategy for Improving Operational Management Capability’ as discussed in the Pearson Audit Review. The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NI Prison Service) refused the request citing sections 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii) and section 36(2)(c) of the Act. The Commissioner finds that the exemption under section 36(2)(b)(ii) was engaged and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in favour of disclosing the information. The Commissioner also recorded a procedural breach of the Act in relation to the NI Prison Service’s handling of the request.