Another data breach of police names causes political reaction across the communities
The police force in any country is a pillar or law and order and should be protected from exposures in data breaches. For the second time a breach has occurred in Northern Ireland.
This time it has been revealed that names of PSNI staff relating to court proceedings have been released on a website which has since been taken down.
McGrath says Publication of officers’ names after data breach defies belief
SDLP Policing Board member Colin McGrath has said the publication of the names of police officers affected by the PSNI data breach defies belief.
The names of some officers were published online in court listings.
South Down MLA Colin McGrath said: “It is deeply concerning that, after everything that has happened in recent years around the PSNI data breach, the names of officers could once again be published online.
“This will cause further distress to officers and their families, and basic checks should have been in place to prevent it.
“Reports that these names are now circulating on social media are extremely worrying.
“We know there are individuals who seek to exploit such information, and for those affected this will feel like a repeat of the 2023 data breach.
“This is yet another reminder that current procedures for handling sensitive data across government departments and arm’s length bodies are not fit for purpose.
“That this could happen while the same officers are pursuing compensation for the 2023 breach truly defies belief.
“The Justice Minister must clearly explain how this occurred and whether this failure will result in further compensation claims that risk diverting vital resources away from public services.”
One Calamity After Another Says Beattie
Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA has said that the latest PSNI data breach is yet another calamity after another with the Justice Department, and a Minister who is never on hand to take responsibility.
Doug Beattie MC MLA said: “It’s one calamity after another with the Justice Department, and the Minister is never on hand to take responsibility.
“The Minister’s cries of ‘that’s an operational matter’ or ‘they are independent’ make you wonder why on earth do we have a Justice Minister and Department of Justice.
“The latest data breach by the courts, of serving PSNI officers, puts them at risk. The slippery answer from the department that this was a legal representative mistake hides the fact that they could have stopped such mistakes from happening.
“In simple terms, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the courts ensures that those who may be under threat, if their names are released, are given anonymity.
“Yet in our justice system, it seems process overruled common sense; independence stifles forward thinking, and operational matters are played like a get out of jail card.
“If the Department of Justice had a report card for the last 12 months, it would be sitting on a resounding ‘F’”.
Statement by Justice Minister on publication of court lists
Justice Minister Naomi Long clarifies the process of publishing court lists.
Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “I wish to address some of the misconceptions and outright inaccuracies being purported by some on social media.
“Firstly, there has been absolutely no data breach by my department. Publishing court lists is a routine process, and no data has been released in error.
“It is well known that court details, other than those relating to family proceedings, are routinely listed publicly online.
“The exception to this, is when a request for anonymity is made to a judge. That request would be made by a legal representative or parties to proceedings. It is only a judge that can grant that anonymity and it is only a legal representative that can make the request.
“Staff in the NI Courts and Tribunals Service have no authority or legal standing to make such a request, let alone a decision of that nature.
“To suggest otherwise is misleading and completely false.”
On the decision to remove the court list from the website, the Minister said: “My department was alerted to the listing by one of the parties to the cases and it was decided at that point to temporarily suspend the list while it was refreshed. This was a precautionary measure and was not because an error had been made.
“I hope this clarifies the situation and puts an end to online speculation and misreporting.”
