A Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request, submitted by Data Breach Claims UK, showed a total of 19 claims for alleged data breaches were lodged with West Yorkshire Police since 2022.
Of those, four claims were settled – with the force paying out a total of £76,000 to successful claimants.
The highest amount – £50,500 – was paid out in 2022-23.
In its FOI response, West Yorkshire Police said the claims were for non-cyber related data breaches.
The Telegraph & Argus asked the force to provide details on the nature of the four data breaches which were settled, but no response was received.
Bethan Simons, a solicitor at JF Law, said: “Breaches don’t always have to be complex cyberattacks, as breaches can often occur from human error.
“This can include misdirected emails, documents sent to the wrong address, or the loss or theft of devices such as laptops or USB sticks containing sensitive information.
“To prevent these breaches, forces must prioritise data protection measures involving comprehensive training for staff on data handling protocols, encryption of devices, and strict policies regarding the sharing and retention of data.”