Deployment of Water Cannons, Baton Rounds, Dogs and Unmarked Vans

Request Number: FOI/14957

Category: Incident and Crime Statistics - Crime Statistics

Subject: Deployment of Water Cannons, Baton Rounds, Dogs and Unmarked Vans

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 some information in relation to request numbers 1, 2 or 3 below.  Furthermore, we are providing an NCND response to request number 4 by virtue of Section 31 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
I would like to know how many times the PSNI have deployed water canon in operational responses to public order incidents since 2020. I would like a breakdown in terms of number of incidents, geographical location (including policing boundaries), perceived community identity of those targeted.

Request 2
I would like to know how many times the PSNI have deployed baton rounds in operational responses to public order incidents since 2020. I would like a breakdown in terms of number of incidents, geographical location (including policing boundaries), perceived community identity of those targeted.

Request 3
I would like to know how many times the PSNI have deployed dogs in operational responses to public order incidents since 2020. I would like a breakdown in terms of number of incidents, geographical location (including policing boundaries), perceived community identity of those targeted.

Answer 1, 2 and 3
We have provided the data for the number of deployments and locations of water cannons, attenuating energy projectiles (AEPs) and police dogs below. 

However, in respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) does not hold data in relation to the ‘perceived community identity of those targeted’.

Water cannons, attenuating energy projectiles (AEPs) and dogs are deployed to impede disorder. They are deployed against violent individuals, after warnings, and not against perceived communities, nor is anyone targeted. Therefore, the information you seek regarding the perceived community identity is not recorded.

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

The most recently published use of force statistics cover the period up to 31 March 2025.  The following tables show the number of times PSNI officers used water cannon, attenuating energy projectiles (AEPs) and police dogs during public order situations during the past 5 financial years (April 2020 to March 2025).

In the tables below one use of force refers to one officer’s use of force involving one or more persons. As such, the number of uses reported is not equal to the number of unique incidents/events or people involved in incidents.  Further information and guidance can be found in the Use of Force User Guide at the following link: 

https://www.psni.police.uk/about-us/our-publications-and-reports/official-statistics/statistics-police-use-force

Water cannon deployed and not used

Water cannon deployed and used

AEP pointed only

AEP discharged

The following table details instances where police dogs were used in response to incidents that the officer using force perceived as related to public order. These incidents may not be large scale public disorder events and may include, for example, incidents related to night-time economy disorder.

Police Dog

Request 4
I would like to know how many times the PSNI have deployed unmarked vans/snatch squads in operational responses to public order incidents since 2020. I would like a breakdown in terms of number of incidents, geographical location (including policing boundaries), perceived community identity of those targeted.

Answer
In accordance with the Act, this letter represents a Refusal Notice for this particular request. The Police Service of Northern Ireland can neither confirm nor deny that it holds the information you have requested.

Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) places two duties on public authorities. Unless exemptions apply, the first duty at Section 1(1)(a) is to confirm or deny whether the information specified in the request is held. The second duty at Section 1(1)(b) is to disclose information that has been confirmed as being held.

Where exemption/s are relied upon Section 17(1) of FOIA requires that we provide the applicant with a notice which
a) states that fact,
b) specifies the exemption(s) in question and
c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) can Neither Confirm Nor Deny that it holds the information relevant to your request as the duty in Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not apply by virtue of the following exemption(s):

Section 31(3) - Law Enforcement - The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1) (a) would or would be likely to, prejudice any of the matters mentioned in subsection (1). 

Section 31 is a prejudice-based, qualified exemption which means the public authority must 

demonstrate the harm in confirming or denying that the information exists and carry out a Public Interest Test.

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.

‘Neither Confirm nor Deny’ (NCND)
There may be occasions when complying with the duty to confirm or deny under section 1(1)(a) would in itself disclose sensitive or potentially damaging information that falls under an exemption. In these circumstances, the Act allows a public authority to respond by refusing to confirm or deny whether it holds the requested information.

The decision to issue a ‘neither confirm nor deny’ response is not affected by whether we do or do not hold the information but relates to the consequences of confirming or denying the information is held. The starting point and main focus in most cases will be theoretical considerations about the consequences of confirming or denying that a particular type of information is held. The decision to neither confirm nor deny is separate from a decision not to disclose information and needs to be taken entirely on its own merits.

PSNI follow the Information Commissioner’s Guidance in relation to ‘NCND’ and you may find it helpful to refer to this at the following link:
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guidance-index/freedom-of-information-and-environmental-information-regulations/when-to-refuse-to-confirm-or-deny-holding-information/

Exemptions Explained

Harm for Confirmation or Denial - Section 31
Confirming or denying that Non Liveried vehicles have been deployed in response to public order incidents and in specific areas could identify PSNI tactics regarding the operational use of our 'unmarked vehicles’. This information would be useful for persons to evade the operational law enforcement role of police by identifying PSNI vehicles while they engage in their policing activities, which may significantly impact the law enforcement actions of the PSNI and may potentially, place police officers at risk.

Any information which could be of assistance to criminals and endanger police officers is very strongly prejudicing PSNI’s law enforcement and security functions if released.

Factors Favouring Confirmation or Denial – Section 31
To confirm or deny that this information is held would lead to a better informed public and demonstrate openness and transparency and accountability in regards to operational policing.

Factors Against Confirmation or Denial – Section 31
Confirmation or denial that this information is held could be considered a release of information by itself. This release of information together with other information which is already available in the public domain or the subject of further requests, with the threat from terrorism remaining ‘Substantial’ across Northern Ireland, could have an adverse effect on the law enforcement activities of the PSNI and potentially put police officers at risk of harm by attack.

To confirm or deny that this information is held could identify policing methodology regarding Non Liveried vehicles which could help criminals evade police detection or allow them to target previously unknown police vehicles, putting both officers and members of the public at risk of harm.

Decision
A release of information under FOI is a release into the public domain and not just to the individual requesting the information. Once information is disclosed by FOI, there is no control or limits as to how the information is shared with other individuals, therefore a release under FOI is considered a release to the world in general.

It is acknowledged that wherever possible policing procedures must be transparent and accountable. Whilst the requested information may appear innocuous and the accountability of the PSNI is always a strong argument in favour of releasing information, we must take into account the wider implications of confirming or denying that this information is held. This includes how our response may be combined with any previous publically released data or potential future FOI requests and what impact this ‘mosaic’ of information will have on the police service as a whole.

In addition, the PSNI will not confirm or deny the existence of any information if this would be likely to prejudice the PSNI’s law enforcement role and in turn endanger the health or safety of any individual. 

PSNI need to make balanced judgements which justify why some information needs to remain exempt and unpublished and we have decided that the Public Interest therefore must favour neither confirming nor denying that the information is held.

However, this should not be taken as conclusive evidence that the information you requested exists or does not exist.