Stress and Mental Health Leave

Request Number: FOI/15552

Category: Human Resources - Officer and Staff (Health & Wellbeing (Incl. Sick absences and retirement)

Subject: Stress and Mental Health Leave

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 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. The decision has been taken to disclose the following: 

Request 1
How many police officers are on stress, stress-related or mental health leave?

Answer 1 
As at 22nd August 2025 there were 276 officers recorded absent due to physiological reasons.

Request 2 
How many have been on leave for more than 7 days?

Answer 2
As at 22nd August 2025, there were 268 officers recorded on sickness absence due to physiological reasons.

Request 3 
How many have been on leave for more than two weeks?

Answer 3 
As at 22nd August 2025, there were 250 officers recorded on sickness absence due to physiological reasons. (This figure is based on absences of 15 days or more)

Request 4 
How many have been on leave for more than one month?

Answer 4 
As at 22nd August 2025, there were 227 officers recorded on sickness absence due to physiological reasons. (This figure is based on absences of 30 days or more)

Request 5 
What is the longest a police officer (currently on the leave) - has been on this type of leave?

Answer 5
We consider the information you seek in Request number 5 is exempt by virtue of Section 40 of FOI Act and have detailed our rationale as to why this exemption applies.

On this occasion the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have made the decision to withhold  the data requested in request number 5 as we consider this to be both low level and identifiable. Therefore there is a significant risk that this level of detail requested could potentially lead to identification of PSNI Officers and thus a breach of Data Protection regulations therefore Section 40 (2) of FOI Act applies as articulated 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:

    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.

Section 40
Section 40 (2) of the FOIA is an absolute exemption which means there is no requirement on 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 constitutes ‘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. PSNI 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 in a lawful and fair manner. 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 including police officers would not have any reasonable expectation PSNI would disclose such information of this nature 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 PSNI has made the decision to withhold that information.

The release of information under the Freedom of Information Act is considered 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, therefore a release under FOI is considered a release to the world in general.