Arlene Foster’s ‘serious concern’ over missing police pension documents

The first minister was commenting after the News Letter revealed that documents sent to a large number of former RUC and PSNI officers had still not been delivered four weeks later.

One group of former officers claims as few as 11% of its members have received their pension advice slips for April – estimating that if that percentage is replicated across Northern Ireland then up to 4,000 payslips could be unaccounted for.

Although former officers expressing concern to the PSNI’s Pensions Branch have been told that only a few hundred are missing, the retired police personnel have questioned how the number missing can be quantified without contacting every pension recipient.

The admin of one ex-RUC group on Facebook said that former officers – particularly those who have had to move house under threat in the past – are understandably concerned the payslips could have been illegally intercepted.

A PSNI spokesman has confirmed the payslips were collected by Royal Mail “at the end of March” and cannot be located, but said police did not believe anyone can be identified as a former officer from the details on the documents.

Mrs Foster described the alleged data breach as being “of serious concern”.

“She said: “We are seeking urgent clarity from the PSNI. It is vital that a full and thorough investigation takes place and all former officers and staff affected are reassured of their safety.”

Her party colleague and NI Policing Board (NIPB) member Mervyn Storey said he has already been in contact with the chief constable’s office, and added: “We are seeking a substantive response. It is important that if there is any risk to recipients of these letters, that it is mitigated as soon as possible.”

Ulster Unionist NIPB member Alan Chambers has also expressed concern and said he wants a “swift investigation to establish what has happened” to the payslips.

“There is naturally a degree of concern as to what has happened to these payslips and why they have not been delivered more than four weeks after being issued.

“As a former RUC Reservist myself, I fully understand that many former officers and their families are concerned that there may have been a possible security breach,

“I have contacted the Policing Board to alert them to this matter and to find out what involvement the Board may have in helping resolve it.”

Mr Chambers added: “What we need to do now is to establish the facts, and that will involve questions being asked of Royal Mail to find out what has happened to these payslips once they entered the postal system. It is imperative that we get answers as quickly as possible.”

A PSNI spokesman said: “Based on internal investigations to date, the assumption that this is most likely to be a result of service delivery delays and the current level of potential risk and impact, the incident does not currently meet ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) criteria for notification at present, but this is subject to review.”

A spokeswoman for the ICO said: “People have the right to expect that organisations will handle their personal information securely and responsibly.

“When an organisation becomes aware that a data incident has taken place, we would expect it to consider whether it is appropriate to contact the people affected and advise them whether there are steps that can be taken to protect them from any potential adverse effects. The organisation should also consider whether it should report it to the ICO.”

The ICO spokeswoman added: “If anyone has concerns about how their data has been handled, they should raise them with the organisation first then report them to us if they are not satisfied with the response.”

Ex-police officers’ security fears over ‘missing’ pension documents

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