Court told there is no funding to pay staff compensation in PSNI data breach

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has told the High Court that it currently has no money to pay compensation to staff concerning the major personal data breach that occurred two years ago. The PSNI had already accepted liability for the incident, which saw the personal details of all 9,400 officers and staff accidentally released.

A PSNI statement, read in court, confirmed that while government departments approved a "universal offer" to settle claims, the total figure is "not affordable within current PSNI funding." This news has been met with frustration by the law firm representing the victims, which said the PSNI's inaction was "not acceptable." The head of the Police Federation has called the situation a "total mess."

According to BBC News, the devolved government in Northern Ireland has requested that the Treasury department release additional funds for the thousands of PSNI staff affected by the breach who are seeking compensation.  

Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told the BBC, "I suspect what was communicated to the court reflected reality - this is not budgeted for within the PSNI budget at the moment and that's understandable.

"The PSNI budget is under a huge amount of pressure... but that doesn't necessarily mean that that money can't and won't be found.