How Much Police Data Breach Compensation Can I Claim?

How much police data breach compensation you could claim depends on the extent of the psychological and/or financial harm experienced, and its impact on quality of life. The police hold significant amounts of personal information, which we trust will be collected, stored, and processed in accordance with data protection legislation. When that trust is not upheld, it can leave those affected feeling violated and anxious about their security.

If your personal information has been breached, causing you harm, you may be able to pursue compensation with the help of a solicitor from our experienced panel. They understand that you may feel vulnerable right now, but they have the expertise to provide empathetic, personalised support that prioritises your needs throughout the data breach claims process. Please continue reading to explore how one of them could help you.

Key Takeaways

• The UK General Data Protection Regulation (the UK GDPR) requires that criminal offence data concerning convictions, offences, and related security measures be given extra protection.
• The police use authorised professional practice (APP) to help forces meet their responsibilities under data protection legislation.
• There were 13,289 data breach incidents recorded by police forces in Great Britain between 2022/23 and 2024/25 that responded to freedom of information (FOI) requests made on behalf of UK Law.
• A police data breach could result from cyberattacks caused by outdated security software, the transmission of personal information to the incorrect address, or unauthorised access to the Police National Computer.
• A No Win No Fee data breach solicitor from our panel could help you seek compensation and provide tailored, expert support throughout the claims process.

To find out more about how your police data breach claim may be valued and whether you are eligible to pursue compensation, please contact our team of advisors today.

Jump To A Section

• How Much Police Data Breach Compensation Can I Claim?
• Can I Make A Claim For A Police Data Breach?
• Are Police Data Breach Claims Common?
• What Are Some Police Data Breach Examples?
• What Do I Need To Bring A Data Breach Claim Against The Police?
• No Win No Fee Police Data Breach Claims
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Learn More

How Much Police Data Breach Compensation Can I Claim?

How much police data breach compensation you can claim may be determined by the extent of the psychological harm you suffered, the impact on your day-to-day life, and any financial losses you have experienced. Settlements can pay claimants for:

• Non-material damage: This is the psychological and emotional harm caused by the breach.
• Material damage: Your financial losses arising from the breach.

Non-material damage may be valued by referring to the suggested compensation brackets featured in the Judicial College Guidelines. Legal professionals and courts often use this document to value compensation, as its guideline brackets cover different forms of psychological harm.

Relevant brackets from these guidelines are presented in this table (with the exception of row 1). None of these entries guarantees police data breach compensation, and the initial figure isn’t from the JCG.

Harm	Severity	Compensation Bracket
Multiple forms of harm and financial losses, such as lost income, therapy, and relocation costs	Severe	Up to £250,000+
Psychiatric damage	A - Severe. Marked problems across many areas of life	£66,920 to £141,240
	B - Moderate. Significant problems, but more optimistic prognosis	£23,270 to £66,920
	C - Moderate. Marked improvement and a good prognosis	£7,150 to £23,270
	D - Less severe. The duration of any disability is taken into consideration	£1,880 to £7,150
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)	A - Severe. Involving permanent effects to claimants	£73,050 to £122,850
	B - Moderately severe. Distinct by its better prognosis	£28,250 to £73,050
	C - Moderate. The person has largely recovered	£9,980 to £28,250
	D - Less severe. Claimant makes a virtually full recovery in 12 - 24 months	£4,820 to £9,980

Can Material Losses Be Covered In My Police Data Breach Compensation?

Yes, police data breach compensation can cover material losses directly resulting from your personal information being compromised, such as the cost of therapy or home security.

• Current or future loss of income, including wages, overtime entitlement, and other workplace benefits.
• The mental health support you received, which you paid for out-of-pocket.
• The installation of additional security in the home.
• The cost of relocating to another house.

You must present supporting evidence if you intend to seek compensation for these losses, such as invoices, receipts, and bank statements.

Please get in touch with our advisors to learn more about how data breach payouts may be valued.

Can I Make A Claim For A Police Data Breach?

You could make a claim for a police data breach if you suffered psychological and/or financial harm due to an organisation’s failure to protect your personal information in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR. This legislation governs the storage and processing of personal data.

Your claim must clearly show that:

1. There was a failure to adhere to data protection legislation.
2. This resulted in a breach impacting your personal information.
3. The breach caused you harm psychologically and/or financially.

A data breach is a security incident resulting in the unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or destruction of personal information. So, if you can demonstrate that the police breached legislation on data protection, resulting in your information being compromised and causing you harm, you could have grounds to make a claim.

Contact an advisor to learn more about the claims process and benefit from a free consultation.

Are Police Data Breach Claims Common?

Police data breach claims are relatively common, with 13,289 incidents recorded between 2022/23 and 2024/25. This statistic has been collated on behalf of UK Law, and can be further broken down to show the police forces with the highest rate of data breach incidents. The following table comprises the top 10 police forces that provided information in response to freedom of information (FOI) requests:

Police Force	Total Number of Incidents
Metropolitan Police Service	2,271
Police Scotland	1,398
Staffordshire Police	1,171
Cheshire Police	1,067
Lancashire Constabulary	934
Essex Police	895
Gloucestershire Constabulary	881
South Wales Police	837
Sussex Police	439
Surrey Police	395

As mentioned, these statistics cover the period between 2022/23 and 2024/25. During this same period, there were a total of 291 claims covering various police forces across Great Britain. The total compensation paid out came to £501,370.

Please contact an advisor to find out if you could claim data breach compensation.

What Are Some Police Data Breach Examples?

Examples of police data breaches include the unauthorised disclosure of personal information, sending emails or letters to incorrect addresses, and failing to have up-to-date security software in place. Specific examples of data breaches include:

• Human error: An individual’s criminal record is mistakenly sent to another person when their address is confused with someone else’s. This results in them developing severe anxiety and leads them to move to another address.
• Data breach by email: A police force fails to use Blind Carbon Copy when sending out an email, revealing the names of several sexual abuse victims. The breach causes considerable psychological harm to all those affected.
• Unauthorised access: An unencrypted police computer is left unattended on a train, allowing another passenger to access personal information stored on it.
• Data disclosure: A police officer verbally discusses an investigation with several individuals at a restaurant, leading to a witness’s personal data being compromised. The breach causes the witness significant distress about their safety, forcing them to pay out of pocket for additional home security.
• Cyberattacks: A failure to update security software regularly leads to a ransomware attack, compromising case files and personal information. This affects the personal data of multiple individuals, causing them significant distress and anxiety.

To share your experience confidentially or to learn more about the claims process, please contact our advisory team.

What Do I Need To Bring A Data Breach Claim Against The Police?

To bring a data breach claim against the police, you will need supporting evidence to prove what happened and show how you have been impacted, such as copies of relevant correspondence and medical or financial records. This evidence can include:

• Correspondence concerning the breach, such as a data breach notice letter or your communications with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK data regulator.
• Medical records with a diagnosis of any mental health condition(s).
• Financial statements illustrating the impact the breach has had on you.

An expert solicitor from our panel could help you to assemble this information. Please reach out to our advisors for further guidance.

No Win No Fee Police Data Breach Claims

Here at UK Law, our panel of dedicated solicitors have expertly handled No Win No Fee police data breach claims nationwide, always providing a comprehensive service that puts clients first. As part of this commitment, they can offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This type of funding arrangement gives you access to knowledgeable representation, all without any:

• Upfront service fees.
• Ongoing service fees during the claims process.
• Service fees if the claim is lost.

Your data breach solicitor will deduct a success fee out of your compensation if you win. This fee is a legally limited percentage, meaning you would receive the majority of the compensation.

Our panel of data breach solicitors appreciate the anxiety you may be facing right now, so you can rest assured that they will take the time to understand how they can best support you. That can involve help with:

• Explaining the claims process for data breach compensation and answering any questions you have.
• Connecting you to support services, such as therapists.
• Providing regular case updates to keep you fully informed.
• Identifying and gathering evidence to strengthen your case.
• Negotiating with the other party to secure the fairest settlement possible.

Get In Touch With Our Advisors

Get in touch with our advisors and find out if you can be connected to a data protection solicitor from our panel.

• Call 020 3870 4868.
• Talk to us live.
• Start your claim online.

Frequently Asked Questions

We answer some of the most frequently asked questions about police data breach claims below.

Do Police Have A Duty To Report A Data Breach To Me?

As with any organisation, the police do have a duty to report a data breach to you without undue delay if your rights and freedoms are at high risk.

Can I Complain To The ICO About A Police Data Breach?

Yes, you can complain to the ICO about a police data breach if you are not satisfied with their response. Any complaint must be made within 3 months of your last meaningful correspondence with the police.

Can A Police Officer Accessing My Data Without Permission Count As A Breach?

A police officer accessing your data without permission may count as a breach if they do so without a lawful basis. The police don’t require permission to access personal data for a legitimate purpose, such as an active investigation.

Could My Data Breach Put Me At Risk?

Yes, a personal data breach could put you at risk of reputational damage, discrimination, financial loss, and psychological harm.

Learn More

You can learn more about data breach compensation claims in these resources:

• Find out if you can claim if your personal information was not locked away or secured properly.
• Find out what a stolen computer data breach is.
• See when you could claim for someone sharing your personal information without consent.

References:

• Read more about data protection definitions in this resource from the College of Policing.
• View this resource on data sharing with law enforcement authorities in this ICO resource.
• The National Cyber Security Centre provides advice and guidance on staying safe online.

Please get in touch with our advisors to see how a solicitor from our panel could help with your police data breach compensation claim.