Exclusive: Justice minister accused of 'political interference' in policing over WhatsApp messages to PSNI chief Bobby Singleton

The Alliance leader branded a statement by Doug Beattie “out of order” – and wanted the force to publicly rebuke its use of a PSNI logo on social media.

The UUP says it was “clear political interference” and an “attempt to influence the actions of the police” – actions the party says are not in keeping with the minister’s own repeatedly stated position on the PSNI’s operational independence.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has rejected that – saying the minister “absolutely” respects its independence and “merely brought the matter to their attention”.

The exchange took place during a series of WhatsApp messages – amid a controversy about her handling of an alleged “data breach”.

Mrs Long sent texts to Bobby Singleton complaining about the UUP statement – with the PSNI chief immediately branding it “absolutely inappropriate”. She told the police chief that the UUP post “needs challenging” – and said while she “studiously” avoids any perception of interference in policing, the issue was “so far over the line, I don’t even know where to start”.

The exchange happened as the minister was facing questions over the names of PSNI officers suing the force over a police data breach appearing on the court service website. The UUP had described it as a “data breach” – something rejected by the minister, and later by the Chief Constable Jon Boutcher.

The messages were released by the PSNI and Department of Justice after a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the UUP. The News Letter reported last month that ​police asked the unionist party to remove the organisation’s logo from an image accompanying the press release – after the minister reported the matter to them in a social media post.

However, it has now transpired that within 2 minutes of that post, the minister had screenshotted it and sent it to the deputy chief constable. Within 6 minutes of that text, the PSNI was in contact with the UUP about their use of the PSNI logo – something the party agreed to remove.

PSNI imagery has been used by other parties – including Alliance – to illustrate party political messages.

Mrs Long had posted on X to say “I hope the [PSNI] are aware that [the UUP] are using their corporate branding for party political statements. This post creates the impression that [PSNI] supports the erroneous and misleading claims made by [Doug Beattie]”.

She sent a screenshot of this to DCC Singleton, saying “This is pretty out of order given the work DoJ have done to resolve a problem not of our making. Twice.”

Mr Singleton responded: “I’ll write to them on this. Absolutely inappropriate”.

The justice minister replied: “Thank you. This is increasingly the case with Jon Burrows acting like he speaks for the PSNI. We have done all in our power to support officers, both with the data breach and last night. I actually think it needs challenging on the fora where it is posted to make clear this is not the PSNI view”.

Mr Singleton said he would speak to the press office – to which the justice minister reacted with a ‘love heart’ emoji. He then said “it’s being taken down now” – adding: “We have also asked for them to clarify it should not have been used and we do not endorse”.

Mrs Long said she “didn't want to drag PSNI into this space and I studiously avoid it any perception of interference. This is just so far over the line, I don't even know where to start. I take your operational independence seriously. I really wish others would also respect it”

Mr Singleton replied: “Race to the bottom”. Unsatisfied with the UUP’s failure to fulfil the PSNI’s request to “clarify” that the force didn’t endorse the message, Mrs Long sent an earlier post from Jon Burrows, saying: “And this earlier version is still up. And no explanation as to the change. They are absolutely abusing their position”.

​The UUP says it “rightly” removed the PSNI logo from its social media post, but the Justice Minister – whose own party has used the crest – used the incident to “undermine the character” of Jon Burrows.

It hit out at comments by Mrs Long that its leader is “acting like he speaks for the PSNI”.

A party said it had “inadvertently” used the PSNI logo to accompany a press release from Doug Beattie, which was “removed at the earliest opportunity”.

“It has now come to light, through two separate FOI responses from the PSNI… that Naomi Long MLA contacted the police via WhatsApp Messenger, using either a private or departmental phone, to complain about the use of the PSNI logo.

“This is despite the fact that her own party has used the logo on multiple occasions.

“Not only did she raise the issue with the PSNI to highlight the Ulster Unionist Party’s use of the logo and encourage the police to intervene, but she also used the exchange to make comments intended to undermine the character of the Ulster Unionist Party leader”.

They added: “This is not an issue for the police; this is an issue for politicians who think they have a free hand to influence a police service for political reasons; in this case when another political party was being critical of the Minister and her department”.

The spokesperson said “the WhatsApp messages we have uncovered are deeply concerning and the attack on the character of our party leader in communications with the PSNI is both inappropriate and unprofessional”.

A DoJ pokesperson said: “The Minister absolutely respects the operational independence of the PSNI and that is explicitly referenced in the exchange. The misuse of the PSNI logo on social media posts is a concern and could be construed as political interference in the PSNI.

“That concern was shared by the PSNI when they issued guidance to all political parties asking them to refrain from using the PSNI logo on any political communications.

“The Minister at no time asked the PSNI to take any action, but merely brought the matter to their attention”.