December 18, 2025 | Operational Policing, Investigations and Events , Events and Public Order
Request Number: FOI/16430
Category: Operational policing, Investigations and Events - Events and Public Order
Subject: Civil Orders and Protest
Request and Answer:
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act, we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does not hold the information you have requested to which your request relates.
Request
We are interested in understanding how Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions (ASBIs), and Dispersal Orders (all powers set out in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014) have been used by your force in relation to protest-related activity or public demonstrations between the dates of 1 October 2024 and 31 October 2025. Specifically, please provide the following information, if available, regarding such orders:
Request 1
The number of ASBIs and Dispersal Orders issued for or enforced against protest-related or public demonstration activities from 1 October 2024 to 31 October 2025.
Request 2
The number of PSPOs imposed or breached in respect of protest-related or public demonstration activities between 1 October 2024 and 31 October 2025.
Request 3
The specific behaviours that justified issuing the PSPOs, ASBIs, and Dispersal Orders referred to in Q1 and Q2.
Request 4
The prohibitions and/or requirements that were imposed by the PSPOs, ASBIs, and Dispersal Orders referred to in Q1 and Q2.
If available, please provide a breakdown of the following information for the Serious Disruption Prevention Order(s) (SDPOs) that your force has issued under Sections 12 or 14 of the Public Order Act 1986.
Request 5
The number of SDPOs that were issued between 5 April 2024 and 31 October 2025.
Request 6
The prohibitions and/or requirements that were imposed by the SDPOs referred to in Q1.
Request 7
The number of SDPOs referred to in Q1 that were breached and/or in the event that a single SDPO was breached more than once, the total number of breaches between 5 April 2024 to 31 October 2025.
Request 8
For breaches of SDPOs between 5 April 2024 and 31 October 2025, the enforcement action, including any prosecutions, taken in response. We have provided an Excel spreadsheet for you to input your answers if convenient.
Request 9
If available, please also provide a breakdown of the demographics including age, ethnicity, gender, religion, and citizenship status of the person(s) subject to the SDPO.
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 (PSNI) does not hold information in relation to your requests.
Enquiries made in relation to your request failed to locate any records or documents relevant to your request based on the information you have provided as this Legislation does not apply to Northern Ireland.