November 26, 2025 | Operational Policing, Investigations and Events , Investigations and Operations
Request Number: FOI/16140
Category: Operational policing, Investigations and Events - Investigations and Operations
Subject: Critical Incidents
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 information to which your request relates. The decision has been taken to disclose the following.
Question
Please provide the number of critical incidents declared by PSNI in the calendar years 2020 and 2021.
Clarification sought: Can you please define your use of the phrase critical incident in this context?
Clarification provided: Any incident in which the effectiveness of the police response is likely to have significant impact on the confidence of a victim, their family and/or the community.
Answer
The number of critical incidents declared by PSNI in the calendar years 2020 and 2021 are:
- 2020 – 1
- 2021 - 4