10/08/2023

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."

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

15 May 2003
Seven PSNI officers injured in car chase
A man has been arrested and seven PSNI officers injured after a high speed car chase in west Belfast early this morning. The incident happened at around 1.20am when a police officer approached a vehicle on the Whiterock Road.
20 June 2022
Ards Man Fined For Dumping Waste At Bonfire Site
A 51-year-old has been fined for bonfire-related waste offences at Newtownards Magistrates' Court. Gareth Gill, of Abbot's Walk, Newtownards pleaded guilty to waste offences relating to a bonfire next to the electrical sub-station on the Circular Road in the town.
18 August 2023
Arrest Made In Connection With PSNI Data Breach
A 50-year-old man has been arrested by detectives investigating the PSNI data breach.
17 August 2023
Man Arrested Following Investigation Linked To PSNI Data Breach
A man has been arrested as part of an investigation linked to a major PSNI data breach. The 39-year-old has been detained after he was arrested following a search in Lurgan, Co Armagh. He was arrested on suspicion of of collection of information likely to be of use to terrorists.
15 August 2023
UUP Questions Details Of 6th July Theft Of Police Data
The Ulster Unionist Party has called on PSNI Chief Constable, Simon Byrne, to clarify information on a 6th July theft of personal police officer information. A spreadsheet, containing the personal details of some 200 officers and police staff, a police laptop and radio, were stolen from an officers personal vehicle in the Newtownabbey area.