PSNI Data Breach Test Cases Begin at Belfast High Court

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is facing legal action following a major data breach in August 2023, when personal details of its 9,400 officers and staff were inadvertently published online and later obtained by dissident republicans. Six individuals have been selected as test cases in the High Court in Belfast to help guide compensation settlements for thousands affected. Although the PSNI has accepted liability and a business case was approved for a universal compensation offer, the police force cannot afford it due to funding constraints, and the government declined a £119 million funding request. Legal representatives from Edwards Solicitors emphasized that compensation will vary depending on individual circumstances, with the court outcomes expected to provide direction for the wider claims. The data breach has had serious implications, including some officers relocating and altering routines for safety. The case underscores ongoing budget issues within the PSNI and the challenges in resolving claims for those impacted by the breach.