Hacked, 47,000 London Police Personnel Data Allegedly Leaked

Illustration of the London City Metro Police. (Oliver Hale-Unsplash)

JAKARTA - A total of 47,000 data from the London City Metro Police are suspected of being hacked. Hacking penetrated the company's IT system that manages police identity cards in London.

The London City Metro Police are worried that data on the personnel check system and the identity number of its members will be the stolen part.

"We have been informed of illegal access to the IT Met system. We are working with the company to investigate if there is a security breach related to Metropolitan Police data," said an unnamed spokesman for the London City Metro Police, quoted from the Mirror, Sunday, August 27.

The National Crime Agency, which handles crimes like the FBI in the UK, has been involved in data theft that is feared to be linked to terrorists or organized gangs.

The company that manages police identity cards in London has access to the names, rank, photos, check checks and salaries of London City Metro Police personnel and staff.

However, the company does not keep personal information such as addresses, phone numbers or financial details of police personnel and staff.

Former London City Metro Police Commander John O'Connor added that his biggest concern regarding the hack was that a number of photos of personnel working in undercover units, surveillance, or in sensitive areas such as counter-terrorism fell into the wrong hands.

"This data breach has endangered police safety and needs to be asked why. The company's IT security is very careless," said the SUN.