£119m compensation fund for PSNI data breach payouts secured

Stormont ministers have confirmed that the allocation of £119 million to compensate officers following the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) personal data breach in 2023 has now been secured. Justice Minister Naomi Long had called for the funds to facilitate a universal settlement offer. After the Treasury rejected a previous request for financial assistance, both the PSNI and the Department of Justice acknowledged their lack of funding to cover projected compensation costs for the next financial year. Long highlighted the importance of reserving funds from the 2026/27 budget to initiate negotiations and mitigate further financial implications. She reiterated that the funding would enable the PSNI to expedite negotiations, reduce potential additional costs to taxpayers, and address the distress experienced by affected individuals.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher expressed his satisfaction with the decision, highlighting the progress towards resolution after extensive lobbying. Deputy First Minister Emma-Little Pengelly welcomed the decision but noted the substantial impact on public service funding, calling it a costly error and urging for improved data security measures.

Training Announcement: Freevacy offers a range of independent data protection qualifications from IAPP and BCS. Our certified courses are available at foundation and practitioner levels and cover multiple legal jurisdictions, data protection operations management, and the implementation of complex privacy solutions in technical environments. Find out more.

£119m compensation fund for PSNI data breach payouts secured

Stormont ministers have confirmed that the allocation of £119 million to compensate officers following the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) personal data breach in 2023 has now been secured. Justice Minister Naomi Long had called for the funds to facilitate a universal settlement offer. After the Treasury rejected a previous request for financial assistance, both the PSNI and the Department of Justice acknowledged their lack of funding to address compensation costs, which are projected for the next financial year. Long highlighted the importance of reserving funds from the 2026/27 budget to initiate negotiations and mitigate further financial implications. She went on to reiterate that the funding would allow the PSNI to expedite negotiations, reduce potential additional costs to taxpayers, and address the distress experienced by affected individuals.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher expressed his satisfaction with the decision, highlighting the progress towards resolution after extensive lobbying. Deputy First Minister Emma-Little Pengelly welcomed the decision but noted the substantial impact on public service funding, calling it a costly error and urging for improved data security measures.

<hr>

Training Announcement: Freevacy offers a range of independent data protection qualifications from IAPP and BCS. Our certified courses are available at foundation and practitioner levels and cover multiple legal jurisdictions, data protection operations management, and the implementation of complex privacy solutions in technical environments. Find out more.