In 2023, the Metropolitan Police in London faced a significant data breach that compromised sensitive personal information of officers and staff. This breach occurred due to a security incident involving Digital ID, a supplier responsible for creating warrant cards and identification badges for the Met.
Here’s a quick look at what happened:
- Incident discovery: The breach was discovered in August 2023. Cybercriminals managed to access Digital ID’s systems through a ransomware attack, leading to the unauthorised exposure of sensitive data.
- Nature of the breach: The compromised data included names, ranks, photos, vetting levels, pay numbers, warrant numbers, pass numbers, and some geolocation data. The breach potentially affected tens of thousands of personnel, causing widespread concern about their safety and security, particularly those in sensitive or undercover roles.
- Extent of the impact: Over 20,000 details, including officer names and photos, were “potentially at risk.” The breach impacted serving, retired, long-term sick, and career-break officers and staff employed within the last three years.
Why is this breach significant?
The Met data breach is particularly alarming for several reasons:
- Risk to personal safety: The exposure of personal details can pose serious threats to the safety of police officers and their families, especially those involved in undercover operations or sensitive assignments.
- Identity theft and fraud: The compromised data could be used by cybercriminals for identity theft, financial fraud, and other malicious activities.
- Operational security: The breach undermines the operational security of the police force, potentially jeopardising ongoing investigations and law enforcement activities.
Met data breach compensation claims
Following the data breach, law firms launched group action claims to help affected officers and civilian employees claim compensation for this shocking data protection failure. And it’s not too late to join a claim.
To join those Met officers and employees pursuing compensation claims, here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Check your eligibility for compensation: Use our quick eligibility checker to determine if you could qualify for a no-win, no-fee compensation claim. This tool will ask a few straightforward questions to provide instant clarity on your eligibility.
- Register your interest: If eligible, register your interest to join a group action claim. This involves providing your details to be kept updated about the case and the next steps.
- Join a group action: Once you register, we’ll connect you with a regulated law firm that can represent you in the compensation claim. Group actions are powerful as they allow individuals to collectively seek justice and compensation, levelling the playing field against large organisations.
Understanding your rights and joining a group action claim can help you achieve justice and mitigate the impact of this significant data protection failure.
