Trained Motorcycle Riders

Request Number: FOI/15726

Category: Human Resources - Learning, Development and Training

Subject: Trained Motorcycle Riders

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 some of the information you seek in your request is 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
Please can you provide a breakdown of the number of trained police motor cycle riders within the PSNI broken down into financial years for the last 5 years?
A table format would suffice to include police area they operate in / department eg. LPT, NPT, DST, TSG, RPU, ARV, AIT.
 
Answer
Please see the table below which partially answers your request:

This shows the number of officers who are currently trained at this time. We are unable to breakdown the numbers for previous years or where officers were working at the time of training. 

Partial Exemption
On this occasion PSNI have made the decision to withhold some of the data requested in relation to the police area/department the officers work in.
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:

1. states that fact,
2. specifies the exemption in question and
3. states (if not otherwise apparent) why the exemption applies.

The exemption/s, 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 which would be likely to prejudice (a) the prevention or detection of crime (b) apprehension or prosecution of offenders

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.

Sections 31 is a prejudice based, qualified exemption, which means there is a requirement to articulate the harm that would be caused in releasing the information, as well as considering the public interest.

Harm
With the current environment of threat within Northern Ireland from organised criminality and terrorism, providing any detailed information on trained police motorcycle riders broken down by area or department will compromise PSNI capability by revealing the full extent of specialist capability available to PSNI and thus will be of interest to those intent on organised criminality and terrorism within Northern Ireland.
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.
Disclosing details about the number of officers trained in police motorcycle riding broken down by area or department could potentially be a security issue if numbers were to be made public.  Releasing these details into the public domain would allow criminals and anyone intent on disrupting police in their law enforcement role, both directly and indirectly impacting on the prevention and detection of crime. It is further confirmed by the current threat level in Northern Ireland which is currently substantial. 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.

Public Interest Test
Factors favouring Disclosure Section 31
Providing the requested information would provide an insight into the full capabilities of PSNI’s officers trained in police motorcycle riding.  This would enable the public to have a better understanding of the effectiveness of how the PSNI conducts its policing operations and would greatly assist in the quality and accuracy of public debate. Where public funds are being spent, there is a public interest in accountability and justifying the use of public money. 

Factors favouring Non-Disclosure Section 31
Disclosing the information you seek would have the effect of compromising law enforcement tactics by revealing the full capability available to the PSNI which will reveal tactical options available to PSNI. It has been recorded that FOIA releases are monitored by criminals and terrorists and so to provide the information you seek would lead to law enforcement being undermined. 

Decision
On balance whilst there is public interest on how the PSNI conducts its policing operations, disclosing of the extent of details about trained  police motorcycle riders and what area or department they work in will reveal operational capabilities and methodologies thus endangering police and the public alike. Consequently the public interest is best served by not disclosing the information you request.