October 31, 2025 | Organisational Information and Performance , Branch/Departmental Performance
Request Number: FOI/15630
Category: Organisational Information & Performance - Branch/Departmental Performance
Subject: CIB Action Plan
Request and Answer:
To better understand how this applies to my case, could you kindly answer these questions:
Request 1
How does streamlining quality assurance processes reduce delays for individual requests like this one?
Answer
This helped to improve timeliness and compliance by reducing bottlenecks which were being experienced at the Quality Assurance stage.
Additional Correspondence from Requestor; Request Aggregated
Separately, I would like to submit a Freedom of Information request regarding the backlog and staffing:
Request 2
What is the current number of unallocated DPA requests as of August 29, 2025?
Answer
As of 29th August 2025, there were 384 unallocated Subject Access Requests.
Request 3
Why has the Corporate Information Branch been unable to fill all 29.6 established posts, with only 21.6 filled as of May 2025?
Request 4
What specific financial constraints are impacting staffing levels for information request processing?
Request 5
How many additional staff would be needed to achieve full compliance without the current backlog?
Answer 3, 4, 5
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides a right of access to recorded information held by public authorities. It does not require an authority to create new information, give legal advice, or provide explanations or opinions. The request you have made is seeking an interpretation or opinion, rather than recorded information held by PSNI. This means it does not fall within the remit of the FOIA.
We hold no information in respect of the question asked.
We can advise that we are liaising with PSNl's HR department in an effort to fill vacant posts within the branch. However, PSNI, as a whole, is experiencing a reduction in resources at this time. To assist, we can advise that CIB's current establishment is 29.6 posts.
Additional Correspondence from Requestor; Request Aggregated
Thank you warmly for your detailed response to my FOI/15630 on August 29, 2025. I appreciate your transparency about the high volume of requests and collaboration with the ICO to address the backlog. Its reassuring to know an action plan is in place, though reports of nearly 300 unanswered FOI requests and ICO enforcement notices highlight ongoing challenges.
To clarify how these elements pertain to my specific case, could you kindly answer these questions:
Request 6
How does the current high volume of requests directly impact the 20-working-day timeline for FOI/15630?
Request 7
What specific steps from the ICO collaboration will accelerate processing of requests?
Answer 6, 7
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides a right of access to recorded information held by public authorities. It does not require an authority to create new information, give legal advice, or provide explanations or opinions. The request you have made is seeking an interpretation or opinion, rather than recorded information held by PSNI. This means it does not fall within the remit of the FOIA.
Request 8
Given the action plans focus on compliance, how will it ensure requests avoid delays?
Answer 8
In general terms, the measures implemented by CIB are to assist with the overall handling of requests in an attempt to comply with the legislative timeframes.
Request 9
If clarification is needed for FOI/15630, what aspects might require it, and how would that reset the clock?
Request 10
How does the ICO guidance on clarification apply if my request is already clear?
Answers 9 and 10
Please see the following link from the ICO website, in relation to clarification: Interpreting and clarifying requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) | ICO
Request 11
What internal metrics track progress on requests like mine received on August 29, 2025?
Answer
In general terms, CIB uses a recording system to assist with request handling.
Request 12
How many requests are ahead of FOI/15630 in the queue?
Answer
The system does not calculate this data. Requests are all at different stages of the legislative process.
Request 13
What resources are allocated specifically to CIB Action Plan-related inquiries?
Request 14
In light of reported backlogs of nearly 300 FOIs, where does mine rank?
Request 15
How have recent ICO enforcement notices influenced handling of new requests like this?
Request 16
What procedures prevent my request from entering the backlog?
Answer 13, 14, 15, 16
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides a right of access to recorded information held by public authorities. It does not require an authority to create new information, give legal advice, or provide explanations or opinions. The request you have made is seeking an interpretation or opinion, rather than recorded information held by PSNI. This means it does not fall within the remit of the FOIA.
We hold no information in respect of the question asked.
Request 17
If delays occur, when and how will you provide a written update?
Answer
PSNI aim to provide an update on Day 21 of the request date, and were possible we will attempt to provide updates throughout the handling of the request via email.
Request 18
How does the 40-working-day internal review limit interact with initial response delays?
Answer
This is part of FOIA. Any delays will not affect or impact on a requester submitting an internal review request up to 40 days after the final response has been provided.
Request 19
What dissatisfaction resolution steps apply if FOI/15630 is delayed?
Answer
Individuals have the right to request an internal review or lodge a complaint with the ICO.
Request 20
How can I track FOI/15630 without additional queries?
Answer
There is no facility available to the public to track any requests.
Request 21
What staffing levels in Corporate Information Branch are dedicated to FOI processing?
Request 22
How do criticisms of PSNIs FOI responsiveness affect policy for my case?
Answer 21, 22
We hold no recorded information in respect of the question asked.
Request 23
What benchmarks from the action plan measure success for individual requests?
Answer
All the benchmarks are implemented to assist with the handling of requests to increase legislative compliance.
Request 24
If escalated to ICO, how would prior backlogs factor into their review?
Answer
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides a right of access to recorded information held by public authorities. It does not require an authority to create new information, give legal advice, or provide explanations or opinions. The request you have made is seeking an interpretation or opinion, rather than recorded information held by PSNI. This means it does not fall within the remit of the FOIA.
We hold no information in respect of the question asked.
Request 25
What proactive measures can I take to assist in expediting FOI/15630?
Answer
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides a right of access to recorded information held by public authorities. It does not require an authority to create new information, give legal advice, or provide explanations or opinions. The request you have made is seeking an interpretation or opinion, rather than recorded information held by PSNI. This means it does not fall within the remit of the FOIA.
Within the legislative process, PSNI will advise of any delays if they occur during the handling of any requests.
Additional Correspondence from Requestor; Request Aggregated
Separately, I submit these two new Freedom of Information requests:
Request 26
Provide details of all ICO enforcement notices issued to PSNI regarding FOI compliance since 2023, including dates, reasons, and resolution status.
Answer
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:
1. states that fact,
2. specifies the exemption in question and
3. states (if not otherwise apparent) why the exemption applies.
The exemption is listed below:
Section 21 - Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means
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.
Please see the following link: Enforcement action | ICO
Using the search term 'PSNI' produces 0 results in reference to FOI compliance.
Request 27
Disclose the current FOI backlog size, monthly intake vs. clearance rates, and projected timeline to eliminate it.
Answer
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:
1. states that fact,
2. specifies the exemption in question and
3. states (if not otherwise apparent) why the exemption applies.
The exemption is listed below:
Section 21 - Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means
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.
The above can be found at the following link: Corporate Information Branch Action Plan | PSNI
We wish to make you aware of following Section of FOIA in relation to submission of any additional Freedom of Information requests on a similar theme:
Section 14(2) Vexatious Requests
“Where a public authority has previously complied with a request for information which was made by any person, it is not obliged to comply with a subsequent identical or substantially similar request from that person unless a reasonable interval has elapsed between compliance with the previous request and the making of the current request”
Section 14(2) is a provision within the FOIA which allows a public authority to refuse a request if it is repeated. To engage this provision a certain criteria must be met. These are as follows;
(1) The request must be made by the same person as the previous request.
(2) The request must be identical or substantially similar to the previous request.
(3) A reasonable interval has not elapsed since the previous request.
A public authority is not required to comply with the request(s) for information if they have previously provided the same requestor with the information via a previous FOI request, or they have confirmed the information is not held in response to a previous request.
The ‘reasonable interval’ is not defined within the Act but it is suggested that 60 working days may be a useful benchmark. However this is subject to the prevailing circumstances such as the information changing on a regular basis or a newer version becoming available shortly after the request was dealt with.