Northern Ireland

Chief Constable set to cut short holiday, attend emergency policing board meeting

A Policing Board meeting in July (Claudia Savage/PA)
A Policing Board meeting in July (Claudia Savage/PA)

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne is expected to attend an emergency policing board meeting  on Thursday, cutting short his holiday following the data breach.

The meeting will take place at the board headquarters in the Gasworks in Belfast at 10am  to discuss the "significant data breach".

Chief Constable Simon Byrne. (Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire)
Chief Constable Simon Byrne. (Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire)

UUP Strangford MLA Mike Nesbitt, a board member, had initially called for the emergency meeting to take place on Wednesday but it is understood it was pushed back to allow for the return of the chief constable and time for a briefing.

UUP MLA Mike Nesbitt  (Liam McBurney/PA)
UUP MLA Mike Nesbitt (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Nesbitt said: “It is imperative that officers, staff and their families and friends understand how seriously this breach is being taken and that the Policing Board is determined to fulfil its oversight and challenge functions appropriately.”