Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA has criticised the Justice Minister for creating “confusion and demoralisation” among police officers and staff over compensation for the recent data breach. 

Doug Beattie MC MLA said:

“The Justice Minister has created confusion around the monies being made available to the Chief Constable to negotiate settlements with Police Officers and Staff regarding data breach compensation. This confusion has left many police officers demoralised, the police federation angry, and the Chief Constable having to manage a situation that was not of his making. This confusion was all created by a Justice Minister who ran ahead of herself by stating something that was not accurate; a mistake that can happen to anyone, a mistake that has real life consequences for police officers, staff, and their families.

“However, it must be said that the Justice Minister knew within hours of her mistake. Yet, instead of releasing a statement immediately outlining how she had got it wrong, she held back, attempted to control the media narrative, and gave a pre-recorded interview on the same day outlining the facts that was not to go on air until the next morning. No thought was given to the Police Federation, no thought to the Police Officers and their families, no thought to the police staff, and no thought to a Chief Constable who was desperately trying to maintain police morale.  Not only was this a poor response from the Minister, but when she did come forward to outline the mistake, she did so with a chuckle, minimising the issue.

“Mistakes happen, and all it takes is for those mistakes to be put right and an apology offered for making a mistake. That was not what I heard from the Justice Minister. Others can make their minds up, but this felt like a cynical attempt to hide at best, a mistake, and at worst, incompetence.”