2 officers bailed as anti-corruption unit probes data payouts to N Irish cops

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has bailed two officers after they were arrested as part of a fraud investigation related to the payments to cops whose sensitive data was mistakenly published in 2023.

The personal data of 9,483 officers and staff members was exposed online for two hours in August 2023 following a botched response to a Freedom of Information request made by a member of the public. All of the 9,483 officers were offered £500 ($615) to be spent on shoring up their own personal security out of fear for their safety. Around 90 percent of these offers were accepted.

Police’s data is considered especially sensitive in Northern Ireland, where many officers never reveal their job or role, even to family members, because of the tension with local Irish nationalists who do not believe the region should be under British control.

The PSNI’s Anti-Corruption Unit is now looking into fraudulent activity related to those payments made to officers. The service didn’t respond to The Register‘s request for more details about what that fraud entailed.

Bobby Singleton, deputy chief constable at the PSNI, said in a statement: “The August 2023 data breach had a significant impact on many of our officers, staff, and their families.

“From the outset, we sought to provide them with the best possible support. The ‘universal offer’ of £500 per officer/staff member was intended to allow officers and staff to take practical steps to provide security and reassurance to them and their families. Ninety percent of officers and staff took up this offer of financial support.

“Following an investigation by our Anti-Corruption Unit on January 29, 2025, two officers have been arrested, interviewed, and bailed for fraud offenses relating to the universal offer.

“Concurrent misconduct investigations have also commenced and the duty status of both officers is, in line with police regulations, now being considered.

“The public rightly expect and demand the highest standards of professionalism and integrity from all of our police officers and staff.

“When the actions of individuals are suspected to fall short of these standards, it seriously undermines legitimacy, trust, and public confidence in policing.

“In these cases, we will always seek to move swiftly and ensure an effective investigation to restore and maintain public confidence.

“As there is an ongoing investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Commissioner Pete O’Doherty of the City of London Police previously described PSNI’s data protection flub as “the most significant data breach that has ever occurred in the history of UK policing.”

A review of the incident was published three months later, revealing an undisclosed number of PSNI officers had to relocate out of safety fears, while many more wanted to but didn’t have the financial means to do so. The PSNI originally said that no officers were being relocated.

Some police officers even sought help from the service to legally change their names, although the review noted the PSNI told these officers they were taking an unnecessary step.

Why relocate?

The actions taken by some officers in the wake of the data’s publication may seem extreme to someone without an understanding of the region’s politics. 

For decades in the 1900s, Northern Ireland was marred by ethno-nationalist conflict that was eventually ended, largely, by the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The history still lives fresh in the memory of the country’s citizens, however, and periodic violence is still observed in modern times.

Many of the officers and staff whose data was published didn’t take such drastic action, although the PSNI’s health and well-being services were acutely affected. 

The December 2023 review noted at the time that these services were stretched and there was a force-wide decline in mental health. More than 50 sickness absences were also directly linked to the botched FoI, with staff saying they had withdrawn from their social lives, and were scared to see family and friends.

Belfast-based Edwards Solicitors is representing the majority of the PSNI staff who are collectively seeking compensation from the force. Following a review hearing on January 28, it said its lawyers would meet with the chief constable before the end of February to discuss a possible settlement offer. ®

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