‘Dismay and anger’ over PSNI data breach compensation ‘mess’
The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) says the failure to make compensation payments over the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) data breach two years ago will be greeted with “dismay and anger” by officers.
A High Court hearing on Wednesday (September 10) was told that, despite a business case for a “universal offer” being recently approved by both the Department of Justice and Department of Finance, the PSNI cannot proceed to make the offer as the total figure is not affordable within current funding.
Senior Counsel went on to say that the chief constable wrote to the Justice Minister on September 8, drawing to the minister’s attention his concerns about this situation and seeking her intervention.
In August 2023, the personal information of 9,483 police officers and staff working at the PSNI, including surnames, initials, ranks/grades, locations and departments, was published in error on a public website following a Freedom of Information request.
The PSNI later confirmed that the information was almost certainly in the hands of dissident republicans.
It was described as the “most significant data breach that has ever occurred in the history of British policing”, with the PSNI fined £750,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Edwards Solicitors, which represents many of the officers and staff involved, said it was “extremely disappointed and frustrated that it has taken until now for the PSNI to raise such a crucial issue”.
In a statement it said: “The data breach took place just over two years ago and proceedings were issued in October 2023. The court has been told on numerous occasions that a ‘universal offer’ was pending, subject to approval, without any mention of funding issues.
“To learn only now that funding to allow a resolution of these matters remains in dispute is not acceptable for those affected by the breach.”
PFNI chair Liam Kelly said: “All sides agree the business case for what’s called a ‘universal offer’ but the PSNI is unable to make the offer as the total figure is not affordable within current funding. This is a total mess.
“The cupboard is bare and without direct intervention from government, the thousands of officers who were victims in this case are being left high and dry.
“A mechanism must be found to pay what is approved. Our officers will see this latest development as a serious setback and will feel dismayed and angry. They are being treated shoddily and that is something that has to change.”
He added: “Both Departments of Justice and Finance, and the PSNI, are in agreement but the Service, in a late admission in the High Court, said it couldn’t foot the bill.
“There is now an urgent need for our devolved Executive to go to government for help. We, too, have serious questions to ask and will be seeking a meeting with the Secretary of State as a matter of urgency. We must have clarification and certainty.
“Right now, all we have is a Service in a cash crisis unable to meet its financial obligations to the men and women I represent.”
Edwards Solicitors said it will now be focusing its efforts on the test cases, which are listed for hearing for four days from November 3, 2025, and hopes that the PSNI will “resolve funding issues as a matter of urgency to allow for the universal offer to be made as soon as possible”.