Chief Constable Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)

The complainant requested information relating to overtime worked by police officers attached to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Close Protection Unit. PSNI refused the request in reliance on the exemptions at sections 31(1)(a) (prevention or detection of crime), 31(1)(b) (apprehension or prosecution of offenders), 38(1)(b) (endangering the safety of any individual) and 40(2) (personal data) of FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that PSNI was not entitled to rely on any of the exemptions cited in order to refuse the request. However the Commissioner also finds that PSNI should have cited section 40(5) of FOIA to neither confirm nor deny that any of the requested information comprised personal information relating to the complainant. The Commissioner requires PSNI to disclose the requested information, with the exception of any information that is personal data of the complainant.