The personal details of more than 100,000 police officers have been leaked onto the dark web following a hack, raising significant concerns about officer safety. The data, which includes full names and contact information, is believed to have originated from compromised computer systems within government departments, including the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and the National Crime Agency (NCA).
The hacking group ExfilSquad is reportedly behind the breach, according to The Times. This group is also suspected of a recent data theft from the Department for Education, where over half a million pieces of data were reportedly taken.
The Police Federation has stated that the breach "raises serious concerns for officer and staff safety." Tiff Lynch, the national chairman of the Police Federation, emphasized the need for increased funding for cybersecurity to protect sensitive personal data in an era of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. She added that the priority is the welfare of those affected and that robust support and clear communication are expected for impacted officers and staff.
A spokesperson for the CPS confirmed awareness of an incident affecting the Police National Legal Database (PNLD) and stated that they are working with partners to assess the impact and provide support. Similarly, an NCA spokesperson said that the agency takes the security of its officers very seriously and will implement precautionary steps if a potential risk is identified, noting that inquiries are ongoing.
One individual whose details were reportedly leaked described the incident as "very disconcerting." The source, who has experience in dealing with serious organized crime, expressed concern that the leak puts officers at serious risk, recalling past instances where they had to relocate to safe houses due to their job. They indicated a need to be vigilant online to prevent further information from being compromised.