PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has said he is confident that information on police officers and staff mistakenly released in a major data breach is in the hands of dissident republicans.
At a press conference in Belfast Mr Byrne said he believed dissidents would use the information to intimidate and target police.
Last week the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) revealed a document had mistakenly been shared online which included the names of about 10,000 officers and staff.
Details released included the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit they work in.
Read more:
- Who are the New IRA?
- PSNI data breach FOI passed through at least three departments
Mr Byrne said: “I would like to confirm the picture in relation to last week’s breach continues to evolve at pace.
“We are now confident that the workforce dataset is in the hands of dissident republicans.
“It is therefore a planning assumption that they will use this list to generate fear and uncertainty as well as intimidating or targeting officers and staff.”
Chief Constable Simon Byrne said the PSNI is “working around the clock” to assess the risk to staff due to dissident republicans obtaining workforce data.
“We are now confident that the workforce dataset is in the hands of dissident Republicans and it is therefore a planning assumption that they will use this list to generate fear and uncertainty as well as intimidating or targeting officers and staff.”
He paid tribute to officers and staff for demonstrating “tremendous resolve and resilience” since the data leak.
Mr Byrne said their safety and welfare remains his “top priority”
“Weekend events have shown their determination to stick to our values and continue to serve the public with commitment and professionalism. We have been strongly supported by a range of cyber specialists from across the policing system in dealing with this unprecedented incident.
“We have measures in place to reassure and advise our workforce of what this risk means for them. We will continue to liaise with the policing board and the UK Government as well as other partners as we develop our response to this matter.”
'Deeply worrying development'
Police Federation chairman Liam Kelly said it was a “deeply worrying development” that dissident republicans had information from a PSNI data breach.
He said: “Our men and women are resilient and resourceful. They must call on all their training and professionalism to counter this ugly consequence of a monumental data breach.
“Even though we believed from the outset the data would find its way into the hands of people intent on murdering or maiming our colleagues, it is obviously a deeply worrying development.
“We have to be strong and determined to do everything we can to minimise risk and that means varying the routes we take to and from work, changing routines and re-assessing our personal security both on and off duty.
“We can thwart the consequences of the violent dissident threat and rhetoric, but it will require an all-out effort by each and every one of us.”
Risk assessment
Chief Constable Simon Byrne said officers and staff are able to contact the organisation through an online service where they will be triaged based on a risk assessment.
“We’re also giving online advice and in terms of the worry and anxiety, a service will be starting tomorrow with our operational occupational health and welfare colleagues to support people who are suffering anxiety and stress.
“You will recognize this as a fast paced and developing incident and as we know more, we will adapt our advice and indeed our support in relation to what people need to get through this incident.”
