FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Transcription

1 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST Request Number: F Keyword: Organisational Information/Governance Subject: Policies on Harassment, Assault and Obtaining CCTV Footage Request and Answer: Question 1 Details on current PSNI procedure, policy or directives in relation to investigations of reported cases of Harassment [stalking] of an individual. Please include guidelines / procedures in relation to issuing of PIN to alleged perpetrator. Please include any guide to when this should be issued to protect victim. How are risk factors determined in relation to victim and who directs /authorises risk grading. If current procedures are still covered by the previously published, not protectively marked Service Procedure 1/12, whether amended please advise. Answer Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act I can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does hold information to which your request relates. The decision has been taken to disclose the following. The PSNI Service Procedure in relation to the Harassment (stalking) of an individual is still covered by the previously published document, referred to in the question above, however, interim guidance was subsequently disseminated organisation-wide in March Please find attached below copies of both Service Procedure SP 1/ Police Response to Stalking and Harassment and the Interim Instructions re: Police Information Notices Question 2 Any policy, procedure or directives for officers investigating reported cases of common assault in relation to the alleged offender and interview guidelines i.e. PACE home interview, voluntary attender or arrest. Answer There is no specific PSNI policy, procedure or directive for officers investigating reported cases of common assault. However, Policy Directive 04/10 which relates to Investigations Carried Out by the Police Service of Northern Ireland will cover any and all investigations carried out by the PSNI. In order to be of assistance a copy of the publically available sections of this policy directive are attached below. You will note section 7 has been omitted and the reason for this is that this contains specific details of how the PSNI carry out certain procedures which would be exempt by virtue of s.31 Law Enforcement of the FOI Act.

2 Question 3 Policy / procedures /directives for obtaining CCTV footage form businesses and safety partnerships in relation to investigations re: 1 & 2 above. Answer There is no specific PSNI policy, procedure or directive for obtaining CCTV footage in relation to cases of Harassment or Common Assault. However in order to be of assistance please find attached below copies of Service Procedure 09/15 which relates to The Seizure, Retention and Disposal of Evidence and the PSNI guideline for The Use of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) in Criminal Investigations. Please note that additional guidance on the use of CCTV in criminal investigations is provided by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in conjunction with the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), a link to which is provided below. If you have any queries regarding your request or the decision please do not hesitate to contact me on When contacting the Freedom of Information Team, please quote the reference number listed at the beginning of this letter. If you are dissatisfied in any way with the handling of your request, you have the right to request a review. You should do this as soon as possible or in any case within two months of the date of issue of this letter. In the event that you require a review to be undertaken, you can do so by writing to the Head of Freedom of Information, PSNI Headquarters, 65 Knock Road, Belfast, BT5 6LE or by ing foi@psni.pnn.police.uk. If following an internal review, carried out by an independent decision maker, you were to remain dissatisfied in any way with the handling of the request you may make a complaint, under Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act, to the Information Commissioner s Office and ask that they investigate whether the PSNI has complied with the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. You can write to the Information Commissioner at Information Commissioner s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. In most circumstances the Information Commissioner will not investigate a complaint unless an internal review procedure has been carried out, however the Commissioner has the option to investigate the matter at his discretion. Please be advised that PSNI replies under Freedom of Information may be released into the public domain via our Personal details in respect of your request have, where applicable, been removed to protect confidentiality.

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