Garett Hargan v The Information Commissioner

Facts

The appellant, Garett Hargan, made a request to the Police Service of Northern Ireland on 14 December 2023 asking whether the force's officers or leadership had ever visited Israel for training, or whether Israeli officers, IDF personnel or government officials had visited Northern Ireland to train or share knowledge or intelligence; whether the force had shared knowledge or intelligence with Israel's police service, the IDF or the Israeli government over the past ten years; and, if so, for information about the nature of those interactions. The authority replied on 8 February 2024, having earlier extended its time for responding under section 10(3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It refused to confirm or deny whether it held the requested information, relying on section 23(5), section 24(2), section 27(4), section 31(3), section 38(2) and section 40(5B)(a)(i) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. That refusal was upheld on internal review on 27 February 2024. The appellant complained to the Information Commissioner the following day. By a decision notice dated 25 July 2024 the Commissioner concluded that both section 23(5) and section 24(2) were engaged, that the public interest favoured maintaining the exemption, and that no steps need be taken. The appellant appealed to the First-tier Tribunal, which determined the appeal on the papers with the parties' consent.