Costs of Operation Kenova

Request Number: FOI/14058

Category: Operational policing, Investigations and Events - Investigations and Operations

Subject: Costs of Operation Kenova

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 some information to which your request relates and this is being provided to you.
We do not however hold information in relation to request numbers 4 below. We further consider the information you seek in request number 5 is exempt by virtue of Section 40 of FOIA and have detailed our rationale as to why this exemption applies. 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
What is the total (the overall cost) of Operation Kenova investigation to date (i.e from 2016 and up until this request has been answered)?

Answer 1
Total cost up to 28/02/2025 is £45,693k.

Request 2
What was the cost for years; (i) 2022/2023 And; (ii) 2023/2024?

Answer 2
(i) 2022/23: £5,874k
(ii) 2023/24: £4,525k

Request 3
Full details of all amounts paid to Operation Kenova during; (i) 2022/2023 and (ii) 2023/2024 to cover:
a) Hotels & accommodation?
b) Food, meals & refreshments etc.?
c) Other payments / amounts?

Answer 3
Meals and Accommodation are recorded as one cost:
(i) 2022/23: £167k
(ii) 2023/24: £87k
These costs represent payments made directly by PSNI on behalf of Op Kenova.

Request 4
What amount/s, annual wage, and remuneration, has been paid to the head of Operation Kenova for years;
a) 2016/2017?
b) 2017/2018?
c) 2018/2019?
d) 2019/2020?
e) 2020/2021?
f) 2021/2022?
g) 2022/2023?
h) 2023/2024?

Answer 4
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.

This information is not held by the PSNI, as this operation is managed by Bedfordshire Constabulary.

Accordingly, we have determined that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does not hold the information to which you seek access.

Request 5
What amount/s, annual wage, and remuneration, has been paid to the SIO of Operation Kenova for years;
a) 2016/2017?
b) 2017/2018?
c) 2018/2019?
d) 2019/2020?
e) 2020/2021?
f) 2021/2022?
g) 2022/2023?
h) 2023/2024?

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:

    a. states that fact,

    b. specifies the exemption in question and

    c. states (if not otherwise apparent) why the exemption applies.

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 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 40 (3)(A)(a) Personal Information – Information constitutes personal data and disclosure would contravene any of the Data Protection principles.

Section 40 (2) of the FOIA, is an absolute exemption which means there is no requirement on the PSNI to consider whether there is a public interest in disclosure. It is an interface exemption and we must consider whether release of the information would breach the General Data Protection Regulations (‘GDPR’). Information about monies paid to an individual will be their personal data, there PSNI has 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 in a lawful and fair manner. In considering whether it is ‘fair’ to any individual to release information about them, PSNI considered the specific nature of the information involved and how individual’s would reasonably expect their financial information to be treated. We consider that the individual mentioned would not have any reasonable expectations PSNI would disclose such specific information about him in breach of the first principle of data protection legislation. PSNI considers this information is therefore exempt under Section 40 (2) of the FOIA as it contravenes data protection legislation to release it.