Greater Manchester Police officers’ details targeted in ‘ransomware attack’
The personal details of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers have been hacked after the force was targeted in a cyber attack.
Details on warrant cards and identity badges – including names, photos of individuals and police collar numbers or identity numbers – were stolen from the force’s supplier of ID badges, Digital ID.
GMP said no home addresses of officers or any financial information about individuals had been stolen and that the National Crime Agency is leading the investigation.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane confirmed a “third-party supplier” of various organisations – including GMP – has been targeted.
“At this stage, it’s not believed this data includes financial information,” he said.
“We understand how concerning this is for our employees so, as we work to understand any impact on GMP, we have contacted the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) and are doing everything we can to ensure employees are kept informed, their questions are answered, and they feel supported.
“This is being treated extremely seriously, with a nationally-led criminal investigation into the attack.”
The force, like many others, uses covert officers and has a sizeable counter-terror unit.
A Digital ID spokesperson said: “Last month, we identified an IT security incident that affected the company’s systems.
“We quickly engaged specialist external cyber and forensic consultants to conduct an investigation into the impact of this incident and the data that may be involved; this investigation remains ongoing.”
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Sky’s Katerina Vittozzi reports from Manchester
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GMP Federation chair Mike Peake says the leak is a source of “anxiety” for officers.
“Our colleagues are undertaking some of the most difficult and dangerous roles imaginable to catch criminals and keep the public safe,” he said.
“To have any personal details potentially leaked out into the public domain in this manner – for all to possibly see – will understandably cause many officers concern and anxiety.
“We are working with the force to mitigate the dangers and risks that this breach could have on our colleagues.”
‘Right to be concerned’
Elizabeth Baxter, head of cyber investigations at the ICO, said police officers expect their information to be kept secure and are “right to be concerned” when that doesn’t happen.
“This incident has been reported to us, and we’ll now be looking into what happened, and asking questions on behalf of anyone affected,” she added.
It comes after officers at two other police forces had their data leaked within the past six weeks.
In late August, London’s Metropolitan Police said it had been made aware of unauthorised entry to the IT systems of one of its suppliers of warrant cards and staff passes, which exposed the names, ranks and vetting levels of its officers and staff.
At time there was further discussion around suggestions that Russian hackers may be targeting British infrastructure.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), meanwhile, were left “incredibly vulnerable” by a massive data breach earlier that month.
The breach involved the surname, initials, rank or grade, work location and departments of all PSNI staff, but did not involve the officers’ and civilians’ private addresses.
The leak came as a result of information published in response to a Freedom of Information request, which was later taken down.
The PSNI’s Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee last week that almost 4,000 officers and staff have come forward with concerns after that data leak.
Committee chair Simon Hoare said it could potentially cost the force £240m in security and legal costs.
Counter-terrorism police are investigating after an incident involving a crossbow and a firearm left two women injured in Leeds.
Police were called to Otley Road at 2.47pm on Saturday to reports of a “serious incident involving a man seen with weapons”, West Yorkshire Police said.
Officers arrived at the scene to find two women injured – and a 38-year-old man with a self-inflicted injury. All three were taken to hospital, with the man held under arrest, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
“Two weapons have been recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm,” Counter Terrorism Policing North East said in a statement.
The incident happened on the ‘Otley Run’ pub crawl, with one venue saying it was closed for the evening due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
Officers guard one of the crime scenes
Officers inside the cordon in Leeds
Counter Terrorism Policing’s statement added: “Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North East have taken responsibility for leading the investigation with the support of West Yorkshire Police.
“Extensive enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a “serious violent incident” and said she was being kept updated by police.
“Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response,” she said. “My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this attack.”
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Wrexham AFC have been promoted for the third season in a row.
The North Wales-based side has gone from the National League to the Championship in just three seasons, under its Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Wrexham were second in the table and had a run of eight games unbeaten ahead of their match against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, which they won 3-0.
Wrexham’s James McClean lifts the League One trophy. Pic: PA
Wrexham’s Dan Scarr celebrates with the fans on the pitch after Wrexham won promotion to the Championship. Pic: PA
It is the first time any club has been promoted for three consecutive seasons within the top five tiers of English football.
The third oldest association football club in the world, Wrexham AFC was bought by Reynolds and McElhenney in 2020, and has since been the subject of a Disney+ documentary, Welcome To Wrexham.
Reynolds, wearing a Wrexham sweatshirt, and McElhenney were pictured celebrating each goal, and after the game, as the fans came onto the pitch at the SToK Cae Ras (Racecourse Ground) to celebrate the victory with the players.
Wrexham co-owners Rob McElhenney (L) and Ryan Reynolds and Ryan’s wife Blake Lively, before the match. Pic: PA
Both stars came onto the pitch after the supporters returned to the stands.
Speaking to Sky Sports, McElhenney praised those behind the scenes, referring to “so many that don’t get the credit they deserve, people who aren’t talked about”.
Reynolds said bringing success back to the club “seemed like an impossible dream” when they arrived in North Wales in 2020.
Wrexham’s Sam Smith celebrates in front of the fans after Wrexham won promotion to the Championship. Pic: PA
He put the three promotions down to “the coaching staff, the greatest dressing room” and an “all for one, one for all” attitude throughout the club, adding he was “speechless with their commitment and their emotion”.
As for the mouth-watering prospect of another promotion to the promised land of the Premier League, the pair agreed it was “for tomorrow”, before ending the interview with a joint mic-drop.
Veteran striker Steven Fletcher said, “as soon as I came to this club, I knew it was something special. We want to go again. We’ll reset in the summer, take a break and go again”.
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