Qualifications and Training
Dear Police Service of Northern Ireland,
a) Could you please format similar to the Metropolitan Police Service (Greater London) a spreadsheet of all qualifications and trainings (Master Prospectus) offered by the PSNI such as, ARVO, SFO, BELS, Driver Training (Response, IPP, TPAC), BWV Training, etc.
b) Outline what qualifications are accessible by what officers, e.g. in what division, what prerequisites exist
c) Is it possible for officers within the Local Policing Response Team to acquire Long Rifle Weapon training and Tactical Pursuit and Containment or similar? If so, under what circumstances?
I am not requesting for the level of information provided by the MPS, such as HR numbers or training course numbers. I am primarily interested in seeing the amount and level of qualifications and training accessible and provided to PSNI officers.
Metropolitan Police Service, Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015060000222 for reference if required.
Yours faithfully,
Jack Brolly
This e-mail has been marked OFFICIAL [PUBLIC];
24th July 2024
Dear Mr. Brolly,
FREEDOM of INFORMATION ACT 2000
I write in connection with your request for information dated 23rd July
2024 which was received by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
on 24th July 2024. I note you seek access to the following information:
Qualifications And Training
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. The Freedom of Information team will advise you in writing if there
are any delays in responding to your request and will keep you advised of
progress.
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/for-organisations/gui...
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 request again, you will be
notified.
If you have any queries regarding your request please write to the
Corporate Information Branch via email or the address below. Please
remember to quote the reference number listed above in any future
communications with the Corporate Information Branch.
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 Corporate Information Manager, Corporate Information
Branch, 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 remain unhappy about how your request has been handled you have
the right to apply in writing to the Information Commissioner at
‘Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF. There are a number of other platforms you can use to
contact the ICO and these can be found on the ICO’s website at the
following link: Make a complaint | ICO
([2]https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/).
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
their discretion.
Yours Sincerely,
Lee
Corporate Information Branch
PSNI HQ Brooklyn
References
Visible links
1. https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/gui...
2. https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
This e-mail has been marked OFFICIAL [PUBLIC];
24th July 2024
Dear Mr. Brolly,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000
I write in connection with your request for information dated 23rd July
2024 which was received by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
on 24th July 2024. I note you seek access to the following information:
Qualifications And Training
To enable the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to meet your
request could you please provide further clarification on the following
You requested
a) Could you please format similar to the Metropolitan Police Service
(Greater London) a spreadsheet of all qualifications and trainings (Master
Prospectus) offered by the PSNI such as, ARVO, SFO, BELS, Driver Training
(Response, IPP, TPAC), BWV Training, etc.
b) Outline what qualifications are accessible by what officers, e.g. in
what division, what prerequisites exist
c) Is it possible for officers within the Local Policing Response Team to
acquire Long Rifle Weapon training and Tactical Pursuit and Containment or
similar? If so, under what circumstances?
I am not requesting for the level of information provided by the MPS, such
as HR numbers or training course numbers. I am primarily interested in
seeing the amount and level of qualifications and training accessible and
provided to PSNI officers.
Metropolitan Police Service, Freedom of Information Request Reference No:
2015060000222 for reference if required.
Clarification sought
Re Q a) PSNI is not aware of what you sought or what you have been
provided with by Metropolitan Police . Under the FOI act it is the duty
of the Requester to describe what exactly they are seeking. Can you
advise please.
Re Q b) – By what qualifications are accessible by officers – Are you
referring to educational qualifications and or specialised qualifications?
Also what do you mean by “Division” – As PSNI do not have “Divisions”
Re Q C) By “Long Rifle weapon Training - Are you referring to a long
range fire weapon?
You should be aware that the 20 day legislative time limit dictated by the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 has been stopped. Once we receive
clarification of your request a new 20 working day time limit will
commence.
Please send clarification of your request by writing to Corporate
Information Branch, PSNI Headquarters, 65 Knock Road Belfast BT5 6LE or by
email to [email address]. Alternatively, if you wish to discuss your
request or have any additional queries you can contact the Corporate
Information Branch on 028 9070 0164.
Yours sincerely,
ARW
Corporate Information Branch
PSNI HQ Brooklyn
Dear Police Service of Northern Ireland,
Clarification sought
Re Q a) PSNI is not aware of what you sought or what you have been
provided with by Metropolitan Police . Under the FOI act it is the duty
of the Requester to describe what exactly they are seeking. Can you
advise please.
Re Q b) – By what qualifications are accessible by officers – Are you
referring to educational qualifications and or specialised qualifications?
Also what do you mean by “Division” – As PSNI do not have “Divisions”
Re Q C) By “Long Rifle weapon Training - Are you referring to a long
range fire weapon?
Clarification provided
a) I am requesting a spreadsheet which may internally be known as the 'Master Prospectus' which contains a list of each qualification/training/specialism offered by the PSNI, again as examples, Armed Response Vehicle Officer, Specialist Firearms Officer, Ballistic Emergency Life Support, Public Order Level trainings, driving and pursuit related qualifications.
b) My meaning of divisions as per this question is 'divisions' or 'sections' such as the Armed Response Unit, Tactical Support Group, Dog Section, Local Policing Response Team. Specifically to refine my question is if an officer is based in a specific area such as an officer based within TSG what qualifications and or training can they access that officers in areas such as the Local Policing Response Team cannot
c) I refer to the training/qualification which allows officers to carry the G36C self loading (assault) rifle which seems to be as mentioned the Long Rifle Fire Weapon qualification.
If any further clarification is required please let me know.
Yours faithfully,
Jack Brolly
This e-mail has been marked OFFICIAL [PUBLIC];
Subject: FOI-2024-02642
13th August 2024
Dear Mr. Jack Brolly,
FREEDOM of INFORMATION ACT 2000
I write in connection with your request for information dated 23rd July
2024 which was received by the Police
Service of Northern Ireland on 24th July 2024 concerning:
Qualifications And Training
Please find attached response to your request.
Yours sincerely,
ARW
Corporate Information Branch
PSNI HQ Brooklyn
DD 02890 700 164
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 'Qualifications and Training'. Specifically in relation to Request 3.
My justification for this request is based on information publicly accessible namely
PSNI Manual of Policy, Procedure and Guidance on Conflict Management
Chapter 9:
Police Use of Firearms
Specifically the section on
Heckler and Koch Weapons
9.142 District Commanders/HOB will ensure that an appropriate number of officers are
trained in order to meet locally identified needs, based upon an evaluation of the
current threat and risk assessment. Commanders will be required to maintain an
adequate level of officers trained in Heckler and Koch weapons appropriate to the
local need.
Based on this information this would propose that officers other than Armed Response Unit officers can be armed with Long Range Fire Weapons. Thus meaning the section favouring non-disclosure on the basis of law enforcement disclosure is invalidated by publicly accessible information.
I believe that from the view of the public, this information being publicly accessible would not in anyway hamper operational police matters as per Section 31(1) Law Enforcement states as all Police Service of Northern Ireland officers are routinely armed and supported by Armed Response Unit officers alongside locally trained LRFW officers. This request is made in favour of public interest and transparency.
Section 38(1)(a)(b) Health and Safety states that information is exempt from disclosure if it proposes a risk to the physical, mental health or safety of any person. In this circumstance I ask you to consider that as stated above, PSNI officers are routinely armed and support by armed support colleagues. Disclosure of this information likely would not aid in any criminality as it is already public information that a viable number of officers MUST be trained in the use of Long Range Fire Weapons (LRFWs) in line with the District Strategic Risk Assessment and threat level.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/q...
Yours faithfully,
Jack Brolly
This e-mail has been marked OFFICIAL [PUBLIC];
Subject: FOI-2024-02642
13th August 2024
Dear Mr. Brolly,
FREEDOM of INFORMATION ACT 2000
I acknowledge receipt of your correspondence dated requesting that Police
Service of Northern Ireland review its response to your request for
information concerning:
Qualifications And Training
An internal review will be conducted in accordance with Police Service of
Northern Ireland's review procedure.
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 an independent
decision maker will carry out a review of this case and advise you in
writing of the outcome.
If you wish to discuss this matter prior to receiving a response please
contact me on 028 9070 0164. Please remember to quote the reference
number above in any future communications.
If, following an Internal Review carried out by an independent decision
maker, you remain dissatisfied about how your request has been handled you
have the right to apply in writing to the Information Commissioner at
‘Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF. There are a number of other platforms you can use to
contact the ICO and these can be found on the ICO’s website at the
following link: Make a complaint | ICO
([1]https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/).
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
their discretion.
Yours sincerely,
Rudi
FOI Decision Maker
Corporate Information Branch
PSNI HQ Brooklyn
Office Number: 02890700164
References
Visible links
1. https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
This e-mail has been marked OFFICIAL [PUBLIC];
Subject: FOI-2024-02642
2nd September 2024
Dear Mr. Brolly,
FREEDOM of INFORMATION ACT 2000
Following your request for us to review our previous response concerning
the following subject:
Qualifications And Training
I can advise you that Police Service of Northern Ireland has now completed
its review and the response is attached.
Yours sincerely,
Sean
Corporate Information Branch
Operations Support Department
PSNI Headquarters • Brooklyn • 65 Knock Road Belfast • BT5 6LE
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now