Mr Boutcher took aim at Stormont in his new statement, saying the news a £119m compensation package had not been finalised was a “further blow to our officers and staff”.
The row comes after clarification from the Department of Justice that a reported agreement to set aside the funding for compensation has not yet been signed off by Stormont.
Mr Boutcher had earlier issued a comment welcoming the announcement on funding over the breach being secured, but said he was “yet to receive official notification of what this will look like”.
Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long (Niall Carson/PA)
In his original response to Justice Minister Naomi Long’s comments, Mr Boutcher said: “I further welcome the Justice Minister’s announcement today on funding being secured for the data breach compensation.
“I am yet to receive official notification of what this will look like but it is another important step in recognising the impact this has had on our officers and staff, and allowing clarity and reassurance for those affected.
“It signals that the government recognises the seriousness and importance of delivering a fair and timely resolution. Claimants can now have confidence that a settlement process will progress next year and I will be able to provide more detail on that when I receive it from the minister’s office.”
However, just hours later a second statement was released by Mr Boutcher which said: “Following my statement this morning in response to the Justice Minister’s announcement of secured funding for the PSNI data breach compensation, we sought further clarification from the Minister’s office.
“It is disappointing to learn that the funding has not yet been agreed by the Executive for data breach compensation, which I know will be a further blow to our officers and staff.
“We appreciate the Minister’s continued efforts to secure agreement from the Executive and we remain determined that a positive resolution can still be achieved.
“I will continue to lobby for this funding for our officers and staff who every day serve our communities with professionalism, resilience and a deep sense of duty, often in challenging and unseen circumstances.”
Justice Minister Naomi Long said ministers had agreed in principle to ringfence funding, but a final decision is pending, with the Department of Finance only recommending approval so far and a final decision not yet taken.
The issue is expected to be wrapped into wider 2026/27 budget discussions.
The unprecedented data breach in August 2023 involved accidental publication on a website in response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.
Names, ranks and roles of nearly 9,500 PSNI officers and staff were all disclosed.
Within days it was confirmed that dissident republicans had accessed the information.
The PSNI has accepted liability, and six test cases are currently before the High Court. Previous estimates suggest the compensation bill could top £100m.
Mrs Long said negotiations over settlement levels were ongoing and that payments were likely to begin next financial year.
Speaking to the BBC’s Nolan Show, the East Belfast MLA added that if the total cost comes in below £119m it will be adjusted, but “if it’s higher… I’ll have to go back to the Executive”.
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher. Photo: Jonathan Porter/Press Eye
News Catch Up – Wednesday 10 December
“What the executive has agreed is that failing a change of heart from Treasury it will ringfence money against that settlement,” she added.
“That now empowers the Chief Constable to settle those cases that are willing to be settled,” she added.
“There’s been negotiations ongoing about what the size of those offers should be, and those negotiations have been going on with the legal representatives of those affected.”
Mr Boutcher also welcomed separate Executive funding for police pay and for the first year of the PSNI Recovery Plan, calling it “a significant step” towards supporting officers and rebuilding the service.
The PSNI Recovery Plan is the police’s multi-year strategy to restore staffing levels, rebuild public confidence, and stabilise the organisation after a series of major pressures – including said data breach, budget cuts and low officer numbers.
“Since taking up post as chief constable, I have been relentless in making sure that my voice has been heard to ensure our officers get the pay award that they deserve,” Mr Boutcher continued.
“We will continue to work closely with colleagues in the Department of Justice and the Department of Finance to ensure this award is swiftly delivered to our officers.
“More work is needed in terms of delivering on the Recovery Plan and funding of recruitment, but this is a significant step.”