Northern Irish police officer may be forced to resign over data breach
Northern Ireland’s most senior police officer faces increased pressure to resign following massive data breach which could put officers’ lives at risk
- Read more: Dissident republicans claim to be in possession of NI officer info
Northern Ireland’s most senior police officer was facing increased pressure to resign last night over a huge data breach that could risk officers’ lives.
Chief Constable Simon Byrne, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), admitted the names and details of more than 10,000 officers and staff were now in the hands of dissident republicans.
The former vice-chairman of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, Tom Kelly, was among those to call for Mr Byrne to step down.
But Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘It is important he oversees this stage of the process. That leadership is necessary to ensure stability…’
The force’s chief constable is appointed on approval of the Minister of Justice for the devolved government, a post left vacant since the breakdown of power sharing last year.
Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Simon Byrne speaking to the media outside the force’s headquarters in Belfast
The former vice-chairman of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, Tom Kelly, was among those to call for Mr Byrne (pictured) to step down
Mr Byrne conceded that the leaked information could be used to intimidate or target officers and staff.
Last Thursday it was revealed that dissident republican activists in Northern Ireland claimed to have information about the identity of police officers revealed in a data breach.
READ MORE: Thousands of Northern Irish police officers could sue force after ‘massive’ data breach of personal details
Byrne said he was ‘deeply sorry’ over what he described as an ‘industrial scale breach of data’ in which the surnames, initials and locations of 10,000 officers and staff were released to the public.
Speaking at a press conference after a Northern Ireland Policing Board meeting that overran by more than two hours, Mr Byrne said he was not considering his position – the second time he has ruled out quitting in the last 24 hours.
It has also been suggested that the PSNI is bracing itself for a multi-million-pound class action lawsuit.
The service’s representative body, the Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI), has set up a secure system so that officers can register their interest in being part of a case if legal action is taken.
The PFNI said that so far around a fifth of the force – 2,000 rank-and-file members – have expressed a desire to be involved.
Legal experts have estimated the force could be looking at paying out £100 million in compensation.
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