THE POLICE SERVICE of Northern Ireland will now regularly release the mugshots of people convicted of crimes.

Those who receive a custodial sentence for 12 months or longer will have their image routinely considered for release.

According to a PSNI spokesperson, this will happen if it’s ‘appropriateness and legitimate policing purpose can be justified’.

This will apply to all types of crime.

Although it was officially made policy in early 2025, confusion among staff meant the roll-out was somewhat inconsistent.

New guidance was circulated to officers and staff in November 2025. 

The force say the release of each custody image is considered on an individual basis by a senior police officer of superintendent rank.

For justice to be seen to be done, we want to communicate to the public, by all means available, of positive criminal justice outcomes in their communities.”

Superintendent Gary Reid of the PSNI’s Justice Department said: “This can be achieved through our news releases post-sentencing and, now, the release of the defendants’ custody images as part of this information supplied to the media – in line with other police services across the UK and in accordance with legislation applicable in Northern Ireland, Police Service policy, European Convention on Human Rights and data protection principles.

“This will be an effective way to build confidence among communities, act as a deterrent to offenders and provide reassurance about the proactive steps police are taking to bring perpetrators before the courts.”

The PSNI decision reflects that of the Met Police in the UK which often releases an image of the offender upon a guilty verdict unless there is a court order or legitimate policing purpose preventing their identification.

The move was sparked by criticism in recent years from families of victims who queried why mugshots were published in Britain but not Northern Ireland.

Geraldine Hanna, the commissioner designate for victims of crime in Northern Ireland, called for the PSNI’s policy to change.

She has since welcomed the decision.

The Justice Minister in Northern Ireland Naomi Long says the policy is about justice being done.

“I think for victims it will give them reassurance, but also for the public it gives reassurance… It will help restore confidence in the public that the justice system can actually deliver for them and see serious offenders put behind bars,” she said.

There does not appear to be any plans in place for An Garda Síochána to release mugshots of those convicted in Ireland.

Although Gardaí do take mugshots, they currently do not have a legal authority to use those images, other than for policing purposes, and are required to destroy such images in certain circumstances.

An Garda Síochána do, however, release photos, CCTV clips and EvoFit images as part of Crimecall, the monthly television programme aired on RTÉ.

On 19th November 2024 An Garda Síochána published CCTV images of 99 ‘Persons of Interest’ on the Garda website relating to the criminal investigation into the Dublin riots on the 23rd November 2023.

Gardaí say this was to either rule each individual ‘in or out’ of and progress the criminal investigative process, one of the largest carried out by Gardaí. 

The Department of Justice has been contacted for comment.