The Police Ombudsman has appointed a solicitor to carry out an “independent investigation” into a data breach at the watchdog last month.
Sarah Havlin is expected to complete the probe within six weeks after which the Police Ombudsman will publish her findings and recommendations.
A former boundary commissioner, Ms Havlin is currently the independent assessor of complaints for the Police Ombudsman.
The leaked information, which contained details of the workforce in May 2022, was in a document released to 22 people invited to participate in an interview as part of a recruitment exercise.
It is understood those who received the three-page word document had applied for investigator posts.
The document contained the forename initial and surname of all members of staff employed at that time, “listed by the service area or team in which they work”.
It was also noted if a member of staff was part-time, agency, contracted or seconded.
Staff members who had resigned or were due to retire, were on career breaks, moving between teams or new starts, were also included.
The ombudsman’s office confirmed some forenames were included in this information.
Ms Havlin has been “appointed to investigate the process and actions which led to the breach occurring” and “consider the effectiveness of the changes the Police Ombudsman plans to undertake to prevent any reoccurrence”.
She will also “make recommendations to assist in the prevention of further data breaches”.
