Seven questions about PSNI data leak

 If you’re  a serving police officer in the PSNI , you’re probably not going to be too thrilled with today’s top story: the surname, rank, location and more of all PSNI people have been leaked online and sat online for hours, so that those interested could make notes.

We could talk about this all day, but here are a few headings that need addressed.

1. How many of the serving PSNI people have up to now concealed their job from their family, friends and neighbours? I’m not talking about shouting from the garden gate or hanging up a sign; just the extent to which the person’s work identity was secret. I’m going to guess not very many.
2. We in NEI live in a small area. In small areas people know each other’s business. How many PSNI people would be confident they’ve disguised their working lives?
3. Already there is talk of PSNI people having to sell their house and move to a new, sometimes distant address. So if, over the next few months, you see a neighbour’s house for sale and they move out, the PSNI question will lep out at you. Assuming you didn’t know the answer already. And of course when someone new moves into the neighbourhood, the PSNi conjecture will again leap to mind.
4. If a police officer is engaged in his/her duties, kitted out in PSNI uniform, isn’t that telling those who wish them harm who they are? And doesn’t the killing of policeman/woman draw more publicity if they’ve been shot while on-duty?
5. How many PSNI people work undercover? Will they have to be reassigned to other areas of PSNI work, now their details are in the public square? Will they have to move house?
6. Moving house is a demanding experience, not just emotionally but also financially. Is it likely that a PSNI family that feels the need to move will move to a house less attractive  (cheaper)than the one they’ve had to leave? One way or another, if there is house movement, it’ll be the public who’ll bear the cost.   You may be reluctant to cough up money for cop-movement or you may be overjoyed at the prospect of helping these brave men and women, but either way you’ll be paying.
7. What kind of bumbling bobbies system exists where, by pressing the wrong button, such a tsunami of information about PSNI people can come roaring into the public domain.?

Footnote: It now emerges that the home address of PSNI officers was NOT part of the leak, so maybe skip over that aspect of the leak. At the same time, if the location of their work was revealed,  it would make the location of their home address easier for paramilitaries,