Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)

The complainant requested information from the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). By the date of this notice the public authority had not issued a substantive response to this request.
The Commissioner’s decision is that the public authority has failed to complete its deliberations on the balance of the public interest within a reasonable time and has therefore breached section 17(3) of FOIA.
The Commissioner requires the public authority to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.
Either issue a refusal notice, that cities an exemption from the duty to confirm or deny that the information is held; or
Confirm or deny that it holds the information within the scope of the request; and
Having confirmed whether or not information is held within the scope of the request; either disclose the requested information or, to the extent that information is to be withheld, issue a refusal notice in accordance with the requirements of section 17 of FOIA.
Section 17(3)-complaint upheld