Non validation of "replica" weapons display in Londonderry 30th Sept 2017.

The request was successful.

Dear Police Service of Northern Ireland,

On 30th September 2017 a so called re enactment was carried out in Londonderry involving the use of what was stated in the press as "Replica weapons".

PSNI have answered a FOI request that states that despite having advance notification of this matter no checks were made to ascertain the viability or status of the weaponry displayed.

Since the date of occurrence 30th Sept 2017 until date of this request 7th december 2017 what steps have been taken by PSNI to locate and validate the status of the displayed weaponry?

Yours faithfully,

David Buchanan

Police Service of Northern Ireland

This e-mail has been marked OFFICIAL [PUBLIC];

7th December 2017

Dear Mr. Buchanan,

FREEDOM of INFORMATION ACT 2000

I write in connection with your request for information dated 7th December
2017 which was received by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
on 7th December 2017.  I note you seek access to the following
information:

Displayed Weaponry 30 September 2017 - Londonderry

This request will be dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. A response should be sent to you within 20 working
days, no later than 9th January 2018 however I would like to advise you
that PSNI are currently experiencing a delay in the processing of requests
and we aim to respond to your request as soon as possible.

If your request is unclear and clarification is required the 20 day
legislative time limit dictated by the Freedom of Information Act 2000
will be stopped until we receive clarification of your request. The ICO
guidance at paragraph 40 of the link below sets out that the clock begins
anew the day after the clarification is received. It states

“If the requester subsequently provides enough detail to enable the
authority to identify and locate the information, then the authority must
respond to the clarified request within a new 20 working day time limit
with the ‘clock’ starting the day after it receives the required
clarification. “

The link for this is:

[1]https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...

In the event where the cost of complying with the request would exceed the
“appropriate level”, which is fixed at £450, as stated in the Freedom of
Information Regulations 2004, it is the policy of the PSNI to close the
request. You will however be notified of this decision and given an
opportunity to refine and resubmit the request.

If your request requires either full or partial transference to another
public authority in order to answer your query, again, you will be
notified.

If you have any queries regarding your request please write or contact the
Freedom of Information Team on 028 9070 0164. Please remember to quote the
reference number listed above in any future communications with the
Freedom of Information Team.

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 emailing [email address]. 

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.

Yours sincerely,

Jane

FOI Decision Maker
FOI Unit
PSNI HQ Brooklyn

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References

Visible links
1. https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...

Dear Police Service of Northern Ireland,

You are now outside the time limit under the FOIA 2000.

Please can you provide the information requested?

Yours faithfully,

David Buchanan

Police Service of Northern Ireland

This e-mail has been marked OFFICIAL [PUBLIC];

Mr Buchanan

Thank you for your email.

Unfortunately, PSNI are currently experiencing a delay in processing FOI and Data Protection requests. The FOI and Data Protection Unit are currently dealing with a high volume of requests and this has impacted our ability to issue responses within the 20 day legislative time-frame. This delay has been communicated to requesters in the initial acknowledgement email to make them aware of the situation. I can assure you that requests are progressed as quickly as possible.

I can only offer you my sincere apology for the delay in issuing your response.

I have provided the ICO contact details below should you wish to submit a complaint regarding the timeliness of dealing with your request:

Information Commissioner’s Office
3rd Floor
14 Cromac Place
Belfast
BT7 2JB
Tele: 028 909278757
Email: [email address]

Kind Regards

Gillian

DP & FOI Decision Maker
PSNI HQ
Brooklyn

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Dear Police Service of Northern Ireland,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Police Service of Northern Ireland's handling of my FOI request 'Non validation of "replica" weapons display in Londonderry 30th Sept 2017.'.

The FOI Act 2000 is law. Just the same as the law requires that I comply with it.
I feel that I have been more than tolerant about this delay, excuses such as PSNI have given are not a valid reason to comply with legislation.

Please conduct an internal review.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/n...

Yours faithfully,

David Buchanan

Police Service of Northern Ireland

1 Attachment

This e-mail has been marked OFFICIAL [PUBLIC];

Subject: FOI-2017-03345

8th February 2018

Dear Mr. Buchanan,

FREEDOM of INFORMATION ACT 2000

I write in connection with your request for information dated 7th December
2017 which was received by the Police Service of Northern Ireland on  7th
December 2017 concerning:

Displayed Weaponry 30 September 2017 - Londonderry

Please find attached response to your request.

Yours sincerely

Davy

FOI Decision Maker
FOI Unit
PSNI HQ Brooklyn

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