January 14, 2026 | Roads Policing and Safety Cameras , Traffic Offences
Request Number: FOI/16608
Category: Roads Policing and Safety Cameras - Traffic Offences
Subject: Traffic Checks - Alcohol & Drugs
Request and Answer:
Request 1
I would like to know the volume of traffic that was tested for alcohol & drugs over the 2025 Christmas operations.
Request 2a
2. I would also like to have a breakdown on how many failures in each category
a) Alcohol
Request 2b
b) Cannabis
Request 2c
c) Cocaine
Answers to Requests 1 – 2c
Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) requires the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), 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 exemption, as well as the factors the Department considered when deciding where the public interest lies, are listed below:
Section 22 – Information Intended for Future Publication
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 (ICO) website www.ico.org.uk.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 it has been decided to refuse access to the information you have requested. Under Section 22 (1) of the Act the Police Service of Northern Ireland is not obliged to disclose information that is held with a view to its publication at some future date.
A summary of the Christmas drink/drug drive campaign is scheduled to be published on Friday 23rd
January 2026 and will be available on the motoring offences statistics section of the PSNI website
Section 22 is a qualified exemption so therefore the PSNI is obliged to carry out a Public Interest Test.
Public Interest Test
Factors Favouring Release
Disclosure would demonstrate PSNI’s openness and transparency.
Factors Favouring Retention
The spending of additional funds in order to facilitate this FOI request would not be in the public interest as this information is due to be released in the near future.
Decision
There needs to be a real and valid reason which identifies a tangible benefit to the public from disclosure of information. As the information is intended to be published at a future date, this year, it is reasonable to exempt it as publication is imminent.