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Universal £7,500 payout offered to PSNI staff over major data breach. Affected police officers squeezed mental health services, relocated over safety fears. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) employees who had their details exposed in a significant 2023 data breach will each receive £7,500 ($10,279) as part of a universal offer of compensation. According to Liam Kelly, chief of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, £119 million ($163 million) has been ringfenced for compensation payments, which are expected to be issued from April. "This universal offer is substantial and major progress in this protracted matter," he said. "For many officers, it will mean they are able to draw a line under the case and move on with their careers." The 2023 data breach was considered one of the most significant and potentially dangerous lapses of data security in UK history. The PSNI accidentally published a spreadsheet online as part of a response to a request made under Freedom of Information laws. Officers faced serious safety risks after their personal details, including names and home addresses in some cases, were exposed online in the immediate aftermath. Given the region's history of ethno-nationalist conflict, albeit rare in recent years, affected police officers reported myriad health issues in the months that followed. The PSNI's mental health support services were soon stretched, and many faced delays in accessing the help they needed. Many staff were also not in a position where they could pay for private care. An unspecified number relocated for their families' safety, a report confirmed. A number of officers sought support to change their names, but were told that it was an unnecessary step. Kelly said that while the Police Federation welcomes the PSNI's universal offer – a sum it hopes will bring an end to the majority of cases staff brought to it – others who feel particularly aggrieved will want to continue with legal proceedings. "This is not a one-size-fits-all offer," he said. "We will see some colleagues who were left particularly vulnerable wishing to proceed with their legal cases. "Many of our officers felt extremely vulnerable by the information that was accidentally released. The upheaval forced some to relocate or install substantial home security systems to protect themselves and their families. "This Federation welcomes the universal offer. It will deliver welcome closure for many of them but we have to recognise the fact that for some of our colleagues, the damage caused by the breach will have longer-term effects and consequences." Edwards Solicitors, which represents around 5,000 of the 9,483 officers affected by the breach, said: "We are delighted that after more than two years of hard work and considerable patience from our clients, the Chief Constable has finally been able to make an offer of compensation. "For many officers and staff, there will be considerable relief, and they will want to accept the offer and put this very unfortunate episode behind them. "For those who have been particularly badly affected, the offer may not be suitable and their cases will continue."