April 24, 2025 | Incident and Crime Statistics , Alcohol and Drugs
Request Number: [FOI/14289]
Category: Incident and Crime Statistics - Alcohol and Drugs
Subject: Cannabis Factories
Request and Answer:
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does hold the information to which your request relates and some of this is being provided to you.
We further consider that some of this information you is exempt by virtue of Sections 21, 22 and 40 of FOIA. We have also provided you with links to guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office which we have followed in responding to your request.
Request 1
The number of cannabis factories found in your area in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
I would like to define a cannabis factory as ‘any property that is being used for the purpose to grow/cultivate cannabis plants, whether there is 1 plant or thousands of plants.’
Answer 1
Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires the Police Service of Northern Ireland, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide the applicant with a notice which:
(a) states the fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question and
(c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.
The exemption, as well as the factors the Department considered when deciding where the public interest lies, are listed below:
SECTION 21 – INFORMATION REASONABLY ACCESSIBLE BY OTHER MEANS
SECTION 22 – INFORMATION INTENDED FOR FUTURE PUBLICATION
Statistics branch publish data concerning cannabis cultivation in the Annual Trends bulletin and accompanying spreadsheet, along with the definition of how this is recorded. This can be found here: https://www.psni.police.uk/official-statistics/drug-seizure-statistics, with the relevant information contained in Figure 2.9 of the spreadsheet Police Recorded Drug Seizures and Arrests in Northern Ireland 2006 07 to 2023 24 (XLSX, 1.02 MB).
The data on cannabis farms for 2024/25 will be updated in the next Police Recorded Drug Seizures and Arrests Annual Trends Bulletin, 2006/07 to 2024/25 which is due to be published at the end of September 2025; exact date to be confirmed.
The full text of exemptions can be found at www.legislation.gov.uk and further guidance on how they operate can be located on the Information Commissioners Office website www.ico.org.uk.
Request 2
I would like to know the largest number of cannabis plants found in a single property.
Answer 2
The largest number of cannabis plants reported in a single seizure incident, where this incident met the criteria for cannabis cultivation as defined in Request 1, is 1,051.
Request 3
I would like to know the location (street name) of the property where the largest number of cannabis plants were found in a single property.
Answer 3
Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires the Police Service of Northern Ireland, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which:
a. states that fact,
b. specifies the exemption in question and
c. states (if not otherwise apparent) why the exemption applies.
The exemption/s, as well as the factors the Department considered when deciding where the public interest lies, are listed below:
Section 40(2)(a)(b) by virtue of Section 40(3)(a)(i) – Personal Information.
The full text of exemptions can be found at www.legislation.gov.uk and further guidance on how they operate can be located on the Information Commissioners Office website www.ico.org.uk.
Section 40
Section 40 (2) of the FOIA is an absolute exemption which means there is no requirement on PSNI to consider whether there is a public interest in disclosure, PSNI must however consider if information can be released into the public domain. Section 40 is an interface exemption which means we must consider whether release of the information would breach the General Data Protection Regulations (‘GDPR’) or the Data Protection Act 2018 (‘DPA’). To ensure that persons cannot be identified, it has been decided to redacted some information which is the ’personal data’ of those individuals as defined under Data Protection legislation.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, PSNI must consider if information can be released into the public domain. I have therefore considered whether the disclosure of this personal data is subject to the exemption at Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by virtue of S40 (3)(A)(a). As this information is ‘personal data’, PSNI considered whether disclosure would contravene any of the six data protection principles contained within the GDPR.
The six data protection principles are good information handling standards which PSNI must comply with in relation to how it handles personal information, including deciding whether to disclose it or not. In particular, the first principle requires personal data to be processed ‘fairly and lawfully’. In considering whether it is ‘fair’ to any individual to release information about them, PSNI considered the likely expectations of those individuals and the nature of the information involved. Individuals must have confidence that their information is treated sensitively and appropriately by PSNI. I consider those individuals would not have any reasonable expectation that PSNI would disclose such information of this nature about them into the public domain. I further consider it would be extremely unfair to those individuals and therefore a breach of the first principle of data protection legislation.
Request 4
I would like to know how many convictions have occurred because of the discovery of a cannabis factory.
Answer 4
The total number of persons with a conviction is 45.
Request 5
I would like to know where these convictions took place.
Answer 5
The convictions took place in the following districts: Antrim & Newtownabbey; Armagh City; Banbridge and Craigavon; Belfast City Area; Causeway Coast & Glens; Derry City & Strabane; Fermanagh & Omagh; Lisburn & Castlereagh City; Mid & East Antrim; Mid Ulster; Newry, Mourne & Down.