The 11 questions posed to Chief Constable Simon Byrne by TUV leader Jim Allister after catastrophic PSNI data breach

In light of what he has described as a “catastrophic data breach” TUV leader Jim Allister has written to Chief Constable Simon Byrne asking 11 detailed questions arising from the blunder.
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By Graeme Cousins
Published 11th Aug 2023, 14:59 BST
Updated 12th Aug 2023, 08:56 BST

He said that he suspected his questions would be brushed aside but posed them nonetheless, asking:

  • Is there an internal audit trail of everyone concerned in processing this request within the PSNI? (These people must be held to account.)
  • What supervision, and at what level, was there of those who put the information together?
  • At what level was the intended FOI response checked? I note references to a junior member of staff compiling the information, but is there no threshold of seniority as to who has access to such information?
  • How, if correct, did a junior member of staff come to be handling this information?
  • Was the compiler a civilian member of staff, a full employee, an agency worker or a police officer?
  • What level of security clearance did the compiler hold?
  • What were the supervision arrangements in place and were they fully followed? Supervision, or lack of it, seems to me a key consideration, with scapegoating of junior staff not acceptable.
  • What was the status of the person(s) who signed off on the release?
  • What is/was the function and responsibility of a) ACC Todd and b) yourself in oversight of data handling?
  • Is mishandling/disclosure of sensitive/classified information regarded as gross misconduct with dismissal consequences?
  • As Chief Constable how far do you take responsibility for this disaster, or where does the buck stop?

Mr Allister concluded by writing: “I suspect you will seek to brush aside my questions under the guise of an ongoing investigation, but you should realise that public confidence in you and your staff is in play here and you should not compound the situation by prevaricating and seeking refuge from answering.”

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PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne cut short a holiday to return to Belfast to answer questions about the data breach which occurred on Tuesday.PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne cut short a holiday to return to Belfast to answer questions about the data breach which occurred on Tuesday.
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne cut short a holiday to return to Belfast to answer questions about the data breach which occurred on Tuesday.

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne cut short a holiday to return to Belfast to answer questions about the data breach which occurred on Tuesday.

Mr Byrne answered questions from politicians in a closed session of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday before making a brief statement to media, during which he apologised for the serious mistake.