Identity badges and warrant cards, containing names, photos, and identity numbers or police collar numbers, were stolen in a ransomware attack on Greater Manchester Police, according to a statement released by the force on Thursday. The attack, which is being treated as a serious matter, is currently under investigation by Britain’s National Crime Agency. The third-party supplier responsible for the breach has not been identified.
The stolen data does not include home addresses of officers or any financial information. However, the incident has raised concerns among officers, as personal details may potentially be leaked to the public. The Greater Manchester Police Federation, which represents officers in the region, is working closely with the police force to mitigate the damage caused by the breach.
This attack follows a similar security breach suffered by London’s Metropolitan Police on August 26, which also involved one of its suppliers. The Metropolitan Police has referred the incident to the National Crime Agency for investigation. Additionally, the Police Service of Northern Ireland recently acknowledged inadvertently publishing personal information of over 10,000 officers and staff in response to a freedom of information request. Officials fear that Irish Republican Army dissidents may have obtained this information, as they continue to carry out occasional attacks on police, even 25 years after Northern Ireland’s peace accord.
Author: Ryan Scott
Just a guy