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If you would like to make a request for 'your personal data' under data protection legislation, we request that you do so in writing, preferably by completing out Subject Access Request form (DAT1). This form allows us to best ascertain your identify and your requirements.

There is no charge for this service, however we also ask you to provide documentation to confirm who you are. Your application must be accompanied by at least two forms of identification. Between them the should show a combination of your name, address and date of birth eg driving licence, passport, medical card, birth/adoption certificate, bank statement or utility bill.

You can submit your request and the required documentation via email to [email protected]. Please note, if you are posting your request to us, please send photocopies of the original documents as we cannot be held accountable for original documents lost in the post.

If you want your reply sent to a different address from your home address, please enclose a letter of authority from yourself detailing where you want the reply sent and include the relevant dates if applicable.

Subject Access Request form DAT1

Please use this form to request 'your personal data' from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Your personal information

Under data protection legislation you have the right to obtain from us confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning you is being processed, unless an exemption applies (see below), and, where that is the case, access to personal data and the following information within one calendar month (this can be extended by a further two months in certain circumstances):

  • The purposes of the processing and if processed for law enforcement purposes the legal basis for processing
  • The categories of personal data being processed
  • The recipients or categories of recipient to whom the personal data have been or will be disclosed. Where personal data are transferred to a third country or to an international organisation, the data subject will have the right to be informed of the appropriate safeguards relating to the transfer.
  • Where possible, the envisaged period for which the personal data will be stored, or, if not possible, the criteria used to determine that period
  • The existence of the rights which individuals have with regards to how their data is processed
  • The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
  • Where the personal data was not collected from yourself, any available information as to their source
  • The existence of automated decision-making, including profiling if processed for non-law enforcement purposes.

It is important to remember that not all personal information is covered and there are exemptions within the data protection legislation which may allow us to refuse to comply with your subject access request in certain circumstances. We will not provide personal data if we feel releasing it to you would be likely to prejudice policing purposes. Some of these reasons could include for example:

  • The prevention and detection of crime
  • The apprehension and prosecution of offenders
  • The interests of national security.

We are also not likely to provide you with information that identifies other individuals.

Personal information about your child

Information about children may be released to a person with parental responsibility. However, the best interests of the child will always be considered.

Even if a child is very young, data about them is still their personal data and does not belong to anyone else. It is the child who has a right of access to the information held about them.

Before responding to a request for information held about a child we will consider whether the child is mature enough to understand their rights. If we are confident that the child can understand their rights, then we will respond to the child rather than the parent. What matters is that the child is able to understand (in broad terms) what it means to make a subject access request and how to interpret the information they receive as a result of doing so.

Applications for personal information on someone else's behalf

We can only supply your personal data to yourself. If you are making an application on behalf of any other person or third party, please make sure you enclose an original letter of authorisation from that individual. Please also ensure that this individual has signed the DAT1 form (if submitted) and provided their identification documents.

Contact Us

Please send your subject access request including DAT1 form and identification documents to:

Corporate Information
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Headquarters
65 Knock Road
Belfast
BT6 5LE

Phone: 028 9070 0164

Email: [email protected]