PSNI Reveals Further Data Breach In July Theft

The PSNI has revealed a further data breach in the theft of a laptop and radio on 6th July.

The news comes after it was reported yesterday, 9th August, that the names, role and station location of every serving PSNI officer and civilian staff members was published online after it was mistakenly included in a response to a Freedom of Information Request.

The new data breach is said to include the same details of some 200 serving officers on a spreadsheet that was taken a private vehicle in the Newtownabbey area last month, along with a police laptop and radio.

PSNI Senior Information Risk Owner, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd said: "Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the theft of documents, including a spreadsheet containing the names of over 200 serving officers and staff.

"The documents, along with a police issue laptop and radio, were believed to have been stolen from a private vehicle in the Newtownabbey area on 6 July. We have contacted the officers and staff concerned to make them aware of the incident and an initial notification has been made to the office of the Information Commissioner regarding the data breach.

"This is an issue we take extremely seriously and as our investigation continues we will keep the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Information Commissioner's Office updated."