A data breach at the Metropolitan Police could affect thousands of police officers.
Register with KP Law to find out what happened, and whether you can claim compensation.
In August 2023, the Metropolitan Police (the Met) experienced a data breach after a cyber security incident. The breach happened after an unauthorised party gained access to the systems of one of the force’s suppliers.
The security failure involved Digital ID, a company which makes warrant cards and identification badges. Digital identity (ID) refers to a digital representation of a person online and in physical interactions. Digital identity systems can offer efficiency, fraud reduction and privacy protection, but when they are exposed, especially in situations like this, it’s a serious situation.
Other forces may also have been affected. The breach has raised concerns for the Metropolitan Police staff association, which commented that the breach will cause concern and anger for many.
KP Law is investigating this incident. If poor data security processes made a data breach possible, we will launch a group action claim. If you have received notification of your involvement in this breach, please register below and we will be in touch to invite you to join our no-win, no-fee compensation claim.
Our action is for the Metropolitan Police Federation and is not open to other Forces at this time.
The following data and personal details may have been accessed in the Metropolitan Police data breach:
Worryingly, we believe that some officers have also had their geolocation data breached. The breach has the potential to cause huge damage if the compromised information finds itself in the wrong hands.
In total, according to one senior officer, over 20,000 details – including police officers’ names and photos – are “potentially at risk”. If your personal data has been compromised, you will be notified.
A digital identity data breach can lead to identity theft, financial fraud and reputation damage. Financial loss can result from direct fraud from a digital id breach.
To ensure they do not fall victim to further attacks, anyone affected by the Metropolitan Police data breach should be vigilant.
At KP Law, we have seen victims of similar data breaches become the target of cybercriminals, with instances of phishing, fraud, and identity theft. Our data protection experts strongly advise anyone involved in this breach to be vigilant and take necessary precautions.
Regularly monitoring bank statements, credit card activity, and online account login history will help those affected identify unauthorised activity on the account.
Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) can increase security on your accounts too. Using different, strong passwords across all your accounts means nothing else is compromised if one is involved in a breach.
We may be able to claim compensation for any distress or financial losses experienced because of this breach and we urge anyone affected to register with us.
REGISTER TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MET DATA BREACH.
Talk to our expert data breach lawyers today on 0151 459 5850
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The security failure involves the IT systems of Digital ID in Stockport, a company which makes warrant cards and identification badges. The company was targeted by cybercriminals in a ransomware attack.
The names, ranks, photos, vetting levels, warrant numbers, pass numbers and pay numbers for officers could have been accessed.
At this time, there is no evidence that financial data or personal addresses have been accessed. However, some of the photos do have geo-location metadata data associated with them. This has the potential to cause incalculable damage.
Anyone who thinks they might be involved should take immediate steps to protect themselves. Find out how to do this here.
You should be cautious of unsolicited emails, calls or messages asking for personal information as these may be phishing scams. Always verify legitimacy of any caller before sharing information.
If you receive notification that you are affected by the Metropolitan Police data breach, register to receive updates on our investigation. We’ll let you know what’s happening, and if and when you can make a no-win, no-fee data breach compensation claim.
A group action claim is where a group of people – sometimes even thousands of people – have been affected by the same issue. Group action cases are also known as class actions, multi-claimant, or multi-party actions.
There are no costs to join a claim. However, if your claim is successful, you may have to pay a ‘success fee’. This fee is taken from the compensation awarded to you. Our success fee is competitive, and we make sure you are fully informed about any potential costs before you officially join our action. If you lose, you won’t have to pay a penny.
UK Digital ID is used in certain cases right now – such as in the police service – mostly in the private sector. Suggestions have been made about a Digital ID becoming mandatory for all – discussed now by successive governments. But 63% of the British public do not trust the government too keep their data secure. So much so, over 95,000 people have signed a petition for the government to end plans for a mandatory digital ID.
Privacy groups have talked about risks associated with digital identity systems, data breaches and mass surveillance being just two. A mandatory digital ID system could potentially create a centralised database that could become a key target for hackers. Many call it a honeypot for hackers, putting the privacy and safety of millions at risk.
Find out more about making a group action claim for compensation.
What does no-win, no-fee actually mean and are there really no costs if you appoint us?
We are one of the most experienced multi-claimant law firms in the UK.
Our GDPR, data breach and cybercrime specialists have a combined experience of over 50 years.
We represent clients in group actions with innovation, resources, and expertise.
We work with expert barristers to ensure you get the very best level of legal support available.
We have all the resources and global expertise necessary to take on complicated cases and win.
We have offices in Chancery Lane London, Birmingham and Liverpool, and the technology to provide a nationwide service, so we can help clients across England & Wales.
We use technology to deliver a better legal experience to our clients.
We work on a no-win, no-fee basis.
We make the process straightforward and hassle-free.
While each case is judged on its own merits, there are some things we would typically look for when it comes to when claiming compensation following a data breach, cybercrime or other GDPR violation:
With stolen data, cybercriminals can make purchases using your bank and credit cards, apply for credit in your name, set up fraudulent bank accounts and access your existing online accounts.
GDPR failures, cybercrime and data breaches can have a significant impact on you, both mentally and physically. They can cause or exacerbate anxiety, stress and other psychological conditions.
