PSNI chief says dissident republicans claim to possess leaked police information

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne during a press conference after an emergency meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board at James House in Belfast, following a data breach. Picture: PA

Dissident republicans claim to be in possession of information about police officers circulating on WhatsApp following a data blunder, Northern Ireland’s Chief Constable Simon Byrne has said.

Hundreds of police officers have voiced fears for their safety following the data breach which affected some 10,000 Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers and staff.