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Metropolitan Police

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.

Have you been affected by the Metropolitan Police data breach?

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. 

Other forces may also have been affected. 

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 and is not open to other Forces at this time.  

The following data may have been accessed in the Metropolitan Police data breach:

Worryingly, we believe that some officers have also had their geolocation data breached.

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.

Why claim data breach compensation?

Hold organisations to account for failing to protect your private information.

Receive financial compensation for your loss.

Force organisations to implement better data security.

Victims of the Metropolitan Police data breach could be at risk

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.

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 

Metropolitan Police data breach timeline

  • 27 August 2023
    Reports emerged that the Metropolitan Police was investigating a possible data breach.
  • 14 September 2023
    Greater Manchester Police released a statement confirming its involvement in the data breach. (Our action is only for the Metropolitan Police)

Latest News

Your questions answered

FAQs about the Metropolitan Police data security incident

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. 

Anyone who thinks they might be involved should take immediate steps to protect themselves.  Find out how to do this here. 

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.

JOIN OUR NO-WIN, NO-FEE DATA BREACH ACTION

More information about making a group action claim

WHAT IS A GROUP ACTION?

 

Find out more about making a group action claim for compensation.

WHAT DOES NO-WIN, NO-FEE MEAN?

 

What does no-win, no-fee actually mean and are there really no costs if you appoint us?

Why use KP Law to make a claim?

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.

What can you claim for?

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:

Financial loss

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.

Distress

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.

Loss of privacy

Your data has value, and organisations must be held to account if they fail to protect your right to data privacy or otherwise do not uphold your GDPR rights.
 

How to protect yourself following a data breach or cybercrime

  • Contact your bank or credit card provider immediately if your financial data has been exposed.
  • Check all bills and emails for goods or services you have not ordered.
  • Check your bank account for unfamiliar transactions.
  • Alert your bank or credit card provider immediately if there is any suspicious activity.
  • Monitor your credit score for any unexpected dips.
  • Call Credit, Experian and Equifax to ensure credit isn’t taken out in your name.
  • Never provide your PIN or full password to anyone (even someone claiming to be from your bank).
  • Never been pressured into moving money to another account for fraud reasons. A legitimate bank won’t ask you to do this.
  • Follow the security instructions provided by the organisation that breached your data.
  • Never automatically click on any suspicious links or downloads in emails or texts.
  • Don’t assume an email or phone call is authentic just because someone has your details.
  • Be careful who you trust – criminals often use scare tactics to try and trick you into revealing your security details.
  • Know that, even if you recognise a name or number, it might not be genuine.
  • Don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision. A trustworthy organisation would never force you to make a financial transaction on the spot.
  • Never provide your full password, pin or security code to someone over the phone (or via message). If a bank believes a transaction has been fraudulent, they will not ask for this information to cancel the transaction.
  • Listen to your instincts and ask questions if something feels “off”.
  • Refuse requests for personal or financial information and stop discussions if you are at all unsure.
  • Contact your bank or financial service provider on a number you know and trust to check if a communication is genuine.
  • Be cautious of unsolicited communications that refer you to a web page asking for personal data.
  • Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know on social media.
  • Review your online privacy settings.
  • Report suspected fraud attempts to the police and Action Fraud.
  • Register with the Cifas protective registration service to slow down credit applications made in your name.
  • Change your passwords regularly and use a different password for every account (a password manager can help with this).
  • Protect your devices with up-to-date internet security software.

JOIN OUR NO-WIN, NO-FEE GROUP ACTION