Irish Examiner view: Data security is vital to the rule of law

PSNI members whose privacy has been compromised in the data breaches must be given every support

Data protection is, or ought to be, a hot topic for any organisation but especially for the PSNI whose staff are working amid a very real threat of paramilitary violence. File picture: PA

The data breaches affecting the Police Service of Northern Ireland has left members of the force “shocked, dismayed, and basically angry”, and with good reason. 

Earlier this week, detailed information about PSNI officers appeared online — the information included the rank and grade data of officers, and also the surnames, initials, locations, and departments for all PSNI employees. The information was online for several hours before being removed.