February 25, 2025 | Organisational Information and Performance , Branch/Departmental Performance
Request Number: FOI/13732
Category: Organisational Information & Performance - Branch/Departmental Performance
Subject: Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking resources
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 have further considered the information you seek in request number 2, 3, 4 and 5 exempt 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 Details
I am carrying out research into how the police respond to different types of Modern Slavery offences. Please could you provide me with the following information:
Request 1
Number of officers currently serving within your force.
Answer 1
As of 24th January 2025 the Police Officer Headcount is 6356.
Request 2
Number of officers assigned or posted to teams which primarily (or exclusively) deal with child criminal exploitation (such as county lines).
Request 3
Number of officers assigned or posted to teams which primarily (or exclusively) deal with child sexual exploitation.
Request 4
Number of officers assigned or posted to teams which primarily (or exclusively) deal with sex trafficking (forced prostitution).
Request 5
You may wish to add a footnote as to how your force deals with these issues of Modern Slavery in terms of staffing and resourcing. I am aware that certain forces have designated county lines teams however other forces may encompass a wider drugs squad which would include county lines activity.
Answers 2, 3 and 5
We can advise that officers throughout PSNI receive training for example on the signs of ‘child criminal exploitation’, ‘modern slavery ’, ‘human trafficking’ including the recognition of ‘sex trafficking’.
Further information with regards can be obtained via the PSNI’s website which can be accessed at the link below:
However we believe that to provide the details of PSNI’s level of officers within these bespoke policing areas should be exempt and we articulated our rationale below.
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:
- states that fact,
- specifies the exemption in question and
- 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, as well as the factors the Department considered when deciding where the public interest lies, are listed below:
Section 31(1) (a) (b) - Law Enforcement
Information would be likely to prejudice (a) the prevention or detection of crime (b) the apprehension or prosecution of offenders.
Section 31 is a prejudice based qualified exemption and there is a requirement to articulate the harm that would be caused in releasing the requested information, as well as considering the public interest to ensure that withholding the information is the appropriate response.
Harm
The information you have requested refers to staffing levels of specific and bespoke policing areas and the release of this information is a sensitive area. Disclosing details numbers of officers within a bespoke policing area could contribute to criminals disrupting police in their law enforcement role, both directly and indirectly impacting on the prevention and detection of crime. The use of this information may be of particular concern in light of the nature and extent of the prevailing terrorist threat which is currently ‘Substantial’. It may also be used by criminals/terrorists in combination with other information they have gathered to try and prejudice law enforcement. PSNI is aware of the mosaic and precedent effects of releasing information which may be of use to terrorists. A clear link exists between knowledge available to criminals and the way they operate, with the resultant impact on PSNI potentially giving a tactical advantage to criminals.
Once information is disclosed by FOI there is no control or limits as to who or how the information is shared with other individuals, therefore a release under FOI is considered a release to the world in general, not just to the individual requesting the information.
Public Interest Test
Factors Favouring Release – Section 31
Release of this information could give the public better access to Police departments and provide a clearer understanding of the PSNI’s organisational structure and disclosure may reassure the public that the PSNI are appropriately using resources to prevent and detect crime and apprehend those responsible.
Factors Favouring Retention – Section 31
Disclosure of staff levels could compromise the PSNI’s law enforcement abilities by revealing the strength of the policing teams to investigate these types of criminal activity. Disclosing information could compromise law enforcement tactics and hindering the prevention and detection of crime and apprehension or prosecution of offenders, impacting on police resources. This could potentially lead to more crime being committed and individuals being placed at risk. If released this could provide criminals those persons intent on committing criminal activity with an insight into this policing area which could be used to evade detection. Thus may better inform to maximise their chances to commit crime. Given the unique operating environment in Northern Ireland, where the threat remains at ‘Substantial’, the disclosure of this information may be of use to those who seek to cause harm to police officers Any information which could be of assistance to terrorists and endanger lives is very strongly prejudicing PSNI’s law enforcement and security functions if released.
Decision
While there may be a public interest in releasing the information requested, the PSNI must ensure that its law enforcement capability is not adversely affected by the release of staffing levels within this bespoke area of Crime Branch. PSNI will not release details that may hinder the detection or prevention of crime through the release of information which may be of assistance to criminals. Whilst the PSNI would always wish to be transparent and accountable, there is a very strong interest in safeguarding police methodology.
Our core function is to support policing across the United Kingdom and contribute to the key policing objective of keeping people safe, which includes officers/ staff and the wider public.
Therefore we have determined that the release of this information into the public domain would not be in the public interest.