There is a particular level of threat to being a police officer in Northern Ireland. We know that, and we accept it. But on Tuesday, my colleagues received unnerving news that could only heighten the anxiety we carry with us day to day.
Our surname and initials, as well as our place of work, were released into the public domain in a data breach that disclosed the details of 10,000 police officers and staff. The ongoing terrorist threat in Northern Ireland made the news hard to swallow. There are still some officers of different communities who do not divulge what they do for a living, even to their friends or loved ones, in order to protect themselves and those around them. The fear among my colleagues has been palpable.
