London Metropolitan Police IT system breached, security upped

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
27 Aug 2023 15:01

London's Metropolitan Police has introduced security measures in response to an unauthorized IT system breach of a supplier, exposing officers' data.

Police officers on patrol, in Westminster, London, Friday, Oct. 1, 2021 (AP)

London's Metropolitan Police Force announced it has implemented security measures in response to an alarming "unauthorized access to the IT system of one of its suppliers."

The breach involved sensitive information, including the names, ranks, photos, vetting levels, and pay numbers of officers and staff members. The compromised company, responsible for printing identity cards and staff passes for the UK's largest police force, acknowledged the breach and is working closely with law enforcement to evaluate the extent of the compromised data.

The incident has ignited fresh concerns regarding the security of sensitive police information. The Metropolitan Police Federation, a representative body for rank-and-file officers, expressed deep concerns and outrage about the breach.

Earlier this week, it was reported that hackers, allegedly Russian and Chinese, managed to breach the servers of the British Foreign Office in 2021. However, London chose to conceal this breach from public knowledge in order to avert any potential embarrassment.

Utilizing a virus that was potentially downloaded accidentally by a civil servant, these hackers were able to sift through emails, internal documents, and other materials pertaining to the daily operations of the foreign ministry.