Detectives investigating criminality linked to a freedom of information data breach in 2023 have carried out a search in Dungiven on Wednesday (June 26) and made an arrest.

On August 8, 2023, the names of police officers and staff in Northern Ireland, where they were based and their roles were published on the internet. The data was made public, in error, by police as they responded to a routine freedom of information (FoI) request.

Following the arrest, the PSNI released a statement saying: “The man, aged 50, has been arrested under the Terrorism Act and taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning.”

Detective Superintendent Avine Kelly said: “We will continue to work towards establishing those who possess information relating to last year's data breach and will take action to ensure that any criminality identified is dealt with robustly to keep communities, and our officers and staff who serve them, safe.”