Yahoo Finance Entire Northern Ireland police force's personal details exposed in data breach
Aug. 9 (UPI) -- The identities of thousands of Northern Ireland police officers were accidentally published online following a data breach, politicians and union officials said Wednesday.
An investigation has been launched into the release of the surnames and initials of all of its more than 9,000 current police and civilian employees with the location and department to which they are assigned that was mistakenly included in a Freedom of Information Request, Police Service Northern Ireland said in a news release.
"We have informed the organization to make our officers and staff aware of the incident, appreciating the concern that this will cause many of our colleagues and families. We will do all that we can to mitigate any such concerns," said Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd, adding that the Information Commissioner had also been notified.
"The matter is being fully investigated and a Gold structure is in place to oversee the investigation and consequences. It is actively being reviewed to identify any security issues."
The surname and first initial, service number, rank or grade and unit to which they are attached and its location were all visible on a well-known FoI site, as well as classified information detailing involvement in surveillance and intelligence.
Todd said the information was "taken down very quickly" and urged that anyone who had access to it while it was up delete it "immediately."
"Although it was made available as a result of our own error, anyone who did access the information before it was taken down is responsible for what they do with it next," he said.
Alliance Party leader and former Justice Minister Naomi Long told the BBC that the breach would cause some officers to consider quitting due to the increased security threat they and their families may now face.
"These are people, both staff and officers, who put themselves at risk in order to keep the rest of us safe and the organization has failed to protect their data and keep them safe," she added.
Police in Northern Ireland have continued to be targeted, particularly by dissident republican paramilitaries, throughout the 25 years since the Belfast Good Friday Agreement that ended the three-decade-long "troubles."
More than 300 were killed in the Troubles and as recently as February a senior officer was shot by masked gunmen as he coached a youth soccer team. Many officers keep very low profiles, with some even withholding the fact they are in the police from their families and friends.
Unlike England, Scotland and Wales, all police officers in Northern Ireland carry firearms.
The Northern Ireland Policing Board, which has oversight on PSNI, has summoned police chiefs to an emergency meeting on the data breach Thursday, the body said in a Twitter post.
The Police Federation for Northern Ireland expressed dismay and anger over the breach and is demanding an inquiry and reassurances from PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne on steps being taken to limit the damage and protect members' identities.
"Rigorous safeguards ought to have been in place to protect this valuable information which, if in the wrong hands, could do incalculable damage," said PFNI Chair Liam Kelly.
"We have many colleagues who do everything possible to protect their police roles. We're fortunate that the PSNI spreadsheet didn't contain officer and staff home addresses, otherwise, we would be facing a potentially calamitous situation."
The breach was one of "monumental proportions" that should never have happened, added Kelly who called for deficient oversight of information request processes to be urgently addressed and new safeguards to prevent any future recurrence.
"The men and women I represent are appalled by this breach. They are shocked, dismayed and justifiably angry. Like me, they are demanding action to address this unprecedented disclosure of sensitive information," Kelly said.
