February 04, 2026 | Legacy and Legal , Incidents and Reports
Request Number: FOI/15751
Category: Legacy - Reports
Subject: RUC Duty Officer Logs
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 (PSNI) does hold information to which your request relates and some of this is being provided to you.
We further consider that some of the information you seek is exempt by virtue of Sections 30, 31, 38 and 40 of FOIA and have detailed our rationale as to why these exemptions apply. We have also provided you with links to guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) which we have followed in responding to your request.
Request
Please provide the following RUC duty officer logs:
Request 1
For O Division (Coleraine), incorporating Portrush/Portstewart sub-divisions, and A division (Belfast city centre) for each day in the week beginning Sunday, 17th March 1991 and finishing Saturday 23rd March 1991
Request 2
For O Division (Coleraine), incorporating Portrush/Portstewart sub-divisions on 26th and 27th March 1991.
Request 3
For O Division (Coleraine), incorporating Portrush/Portstewart sub-divisions on 16th May and 17th May 1991
Request 4
For O Division (Coleraine), incorporating Portrush/Portstewart sub-divisions, and A division (Belfast city centre) on for each day in the week beginning Tuesday, 13th August 1996 and finishing Tuesday, 20th August 1996
Answer
Please find attached PDF files in relation to the above requests. Some information has been removed for the reasons explained below.
Partial Exemption
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 exemptions, as well as the factors the Department considered when deciding where the public interest lies, are listed below:
Section 30(1)(a) Investigations and Proceedings Conducted by Public Authorities -
Section 31(1)(a)(b) - Law Enforcement
Section 38(1)(a) – Health & Safety
Section 40(2)(a)(b) by virtue of 40(3)(A)(a) Personal Information
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.
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’) or the Data Protection Act 2018 (‘DPA’). Third party personal information is contained within records relating to this incident and would constitute ‘personal data’ under the GDPR (Article 4) and DPA (Part 1 s.3).
Under the Freedom of Information Act, PSNI must consider if information can be released into the public domain. We have therefore considered whether the disclosure of this personal data is subject to the exemption at Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by virtue of s40 (3)(A)(a). As this information is ‘personal data’, PSNI considered whether disclosure would contravene any of the six data protection principles contained within the GDPR or DPA.
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 ‘fairly and lawfully’. In considering whether it is ‘fair’ to any individual to release information about them, PSNI considered the likely expectations of those individuals and the nature of the information involved. Individuals must have confidence that their information is treated sensitively and appropriately by PSNI. We consider those individuals would not have any reasonable expectation PSNI would disclose such information about them. We consider it would be extremely unfair to those individuals and therefore a breach of the first principle of data protection legislation. This information is therefore exempt under section 40 (2) of the FOIA as it contravenes data protection legislation to release it and the PSNI has made the decision to withhold that information.
Section 30 is a class based and qualified exemption which means that there is no requirement to evidence the harm in release but that it is necessary to conduct a Public Interest Test.
Section 31 is a qualified and prejudice-based exemption. This means that the legislators have determined that it is necessary to evidence the harm in release and to conduct a public interest test.
Section 38 is a prejudice based, qualified exemption, which means that the legislators have identified that the harm (prejudice) in disclosure as well as the public interest considerations need to be evidenced and articulated to the applicant.
Please see the Harm provided below in relation to Sections 31 and 38 and the public interest considerations for Sections 30, 31 and 38.
Harm
Section 31
PSNI consider that some of the information contained within is crucial to its methodologies and policing operations in the fight against criminal activity and terrorism. If disclosed, this information would be likely to have a detrimental affect on the law enforcement role of police. The information would be useful to terrorist/criminals intent on committing crime and, by extension, endangering individuals and the general public.
A clear link exists between knowledge available to terrorists/criminals and the way they operate, with the resultant impact on PSNI potentially giving a tactical advantage to criminals.
Section 38
Section 38 provides an exemption from disclosing information if such a disclosure would endanger any individual and is wide enough to include those members of the general public including family members of those involved in these incidents, some of whom may now be deceased.
A disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 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 who or how the information is shared with other individuals.
Public Interest Test
Factors Favouring Release – Section 30
Disclosure would assist in demonstrating that PSNI are conducting thorough investigations. There is much public interest in ensuring that every investigation is undertaken professionally and rigorously and release of the requested information could promote public trust in providing transparency, openness and accountability into how investigations take place.
Releasing the information may better inform the public and encourage others to come forward to report criminal offences if they know a proper investigation will be undertaken. All police investigations will involve the use of public funds and where this is the case there is always a public interest in ensuring that those funds are not used unnecessarily or unwisely.
Factors Favouring Retention – Section 30
The information requested relates to several investigations and while there is likely information already in the public domain for some of these, a release of specific information by PSNI could compromise any future investigative opportunities.
If details of these incidents were to be released at this time, any future review could be hampered and undermined if new witnesses or new information were identified. Confidence in the Police by the families of those involved could also be severely damaged if our abilities to interview witnesses were to be reduced. Disclosure may affect current or future evidence and negatively impact any potential prosecution, hindering the administration of justice.
It is the NPCC’s (National Police Chiefs’ Council) approach that information relating to an investigation will rarely be disclosed under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Whilst information may be released if it provides a tangible community benefit, for example to prevent or detect crime or to protect life or property, it is hard to see how the information here will do so.
Factors Favouring Release - Section 31
Release of this information contains detail which could inform how public money is spent and provide an insight into PSNI’s use of law enforcement. This enhanced knowledge would assist in providing transparency in the way PSNI carry out their day-to-day delivery of operational law enforcement. The public have a right to expect transparency and accountability in relation to the use of Public Funds.
Factors Favouring Retention - Section 31
Disclosure of this information could compromise law enforcement tactics and assist those seeking to subvert police, compromising law enforcement tactics and hindering the prevention of crime and apprehension or prosecution of offenders, impacting on police resources.
Factors Favouring Release – Section 38
Releasing the requested information would promote transparency and openness. Disclosure would improve the public’s knowledge and understanding surrounding these incidents.
Factors Favouring Retention – Section 38
Disclosure could result in a loss of confidence in the police service to protect individuals. Releasing the requested information could also cause upset and distress to relatives and close friends of those affected by these incidents.
Balancing Test/Decision
Section 30
Although there is a public interest in the transparency of investigations, the police service has a greater duty of care to all individuals involved in any investigation. The police service will not disclose information which could prejudice any future evidential opportunities. We have therefore determined that the release of this information into the public domain would not be in the public interest.
Section 31
The Police Service is charged with enforcing the law, preventing and detecting crime and protecting the communities we serve. Whilst there is a public interest in the transparency of the law enforcement role of the Police Service and providing assurance that the PSNI is appropriately and effectively dealing with crime, there is a strong public interest in safeguarding the integrity of the police service. The PSNI has a duty to fulfil its law enforcement role and whilst there is a public interest in the transparency of policing activities and the appropriateness of how public funds are allocated, in Policing, the delivery of effective law enforcement is a priority. Both criminal and terrorist elements could use this information to plot activities which could be harmful to both the police and innocent bystanders.
It is acknowledged that wherever possible policing must be transparent and accountable. However, police need to make a balance judgement which justifies why some information needs to remain exempt and unpublished. We have therefore determined that the release of this information into the public domain would not be in the public interest.
Section 38
The requested information is held as part of a series of police investigations. Such a file would contain personal information of individuals involved in police investigations. Disclosure of such information may cause distress to family and friends of those involved and detrimentally impact their mental health. We have therefore determined that the release of this information into the public domain would not be in the public interest.
The 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 disclosure under FOI is considered a release to the world in general.