Leading Data Lawyers concerned to learn of Greater Manchester Police data breach

As a leading firm of UK data breach compensation lawyers, we are incredibly concerned to learn of the Greater Manchester Police data breach that may affect thousands of victims of serious crime.

Representing thousands of clients for No Win, No Fee compensation cases for individual claims and in over 45 group action matters, our team is dedicated to fighting for the rights of those whose personal and sensitive information has been exposed or misused. We have seen how damaging a leak like this can be, and we have settled serious privacy compensation claims having been specialising in this area of law for over the last six years.

If you have been affected by this incident, we may be able to help you.

About the Greater Manchester Police data breach affecting crime victims

In an exclusive story from ManchesterMill.co.uk, an anonymous whistle-blower is understood to have come forward and provided details about a Greater Manchester Police data breach affecting victims of serious crime.

According to the reports, an officer discovered that sensitive data was accessible without a password on a website for an overseas IT contractor. The data reportedly involved the names and addresses of vulnerable victims of crime, as well as details for witnesses and informants. The data may have been accessible for around two months and is understood to have included information relating to serious and sensitive crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual assault.

It is understood that the breach may have occurred due to the information being uploaded to a “test system”, and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is said to be aware of the incident.

A serious data breach

As we often see in the wake of an incident like this Greater Manchester Police data breach, fear and concerns about the impact of the event are being dampened. The force is understood to have suggested that the leak of information is limited, and that there has not been any indication of access of the information by a third-party.

However, the information involved is clearly incredibly serious, and some of the victims whose information has been leaked may be entitled to anonymity by law. As such, if their information has been exposed, the risks and the impact for them could be substantial.

We know that hackers and cybercriminals use the same sorts of methods that security researchers do when they hunt for exposed information online to abuse. A more substantive answer as to whether the data has been accessed is an important matter to be investigated. If it transpires that abuse of the data cannot be ruled out, this would be a huge cause for concern.

What can victims do?

Victims of the Greater Manchester Police data breach should be informed as soon as possible as to whether their personal information has been exposed. They also have the right to know what data is involved.

Victims of a data breach can be entitled to claim compensation for the distress caused by the loss of control of personal information. In a case where particularly personal and sensitive data is leaked, data breach compensation amounts can be substantial – from thousands to tens of thousands of pounds.

If you have been informed that your data has been exposed in this breach, please don’t hesitate to contact our team now for free, no-obligation advice about your legal options.

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