The right to make a request
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 came fully into force on 1 January 2005 and further information is available from the Information Commissioners Office.
The Northern Ireland Prison Service is one of the public bodies covered by the terms of this Act.
The right to request information under this Act is not confined to citizens of the United Kingdom or from those resident in the United Kingdom. Requests can made by individuals of any nationality from anywhere in the world.
The request must be in writing and the request may be made by e-mail, but the authority receiving the request has the right to confirm the address of the applicant. It must also relate to information that we already hold. The Act does not provide for the compilation of information.
Requests must be processed within 20 working days provided that all of the necessary information is submitted by the applicant. Where the receiving authority is in any doubt as to the precise nature of the information requested it is entitled to seek additional information from the applicant. In this event there may be a delay to the process.
Making a request
Prior to making a request you should consider whether the Northern Ireland Prison Service is the most appropriate authority to send a request to. Your request will be answered more quickly if you write directly to the authority that holds the information.
Applications can be made by any of the following methods:
Post
Send your written request to:
Records & Information Management TeamNorthern Ireland Prison Service
Upper Newtownards Road
Hillview Buildings
Belfast
BT4 3TA
Please include your full postal address and describe in as much detail as possible the information that you require. Providing any relevant dates, events or subject-headings that will enable us to ascertain if we hold the information.
Please note that the responsibility for the management of prison healthcare transferred to the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust with effect from April 2008. All requests for information relating to prison healthcare should therefore be referred to the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust.