Police Service of Northern Ireland
- Date 31 October 2022
- Sector Police and criminal justice
- Decision(s) FOI 10(1): Upheld, FOI 30: Not upheld
The complainant has requested information about the ballistic history of a weapon used in a specific crime. Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) refused to confirm or deny whether it holds the requested information.
The Commissioner’s decision is that PSNI is entitled to rely on section 30(3) of FOIA to refuse to confirm or deny that it holds the requested information, and that the balance of the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. However, he finds that PSNI breached section 10(1) of FOIA as it failed to provide its response to the request within the statutory timeframe.
The Commissioner does not require PSNI to take any remedial steps. First-tier tribunal (General Regulatory chamber) information rights appeal EA/2022/0395 withdrawn.