Greater Manchester Police data breach compensation: How to claim

Third-party attacks can be devastating, as was proven in the recent case involving Greater Manchester Police. Legal Director Richard Forrest provides further details, as well as what you can do to make a claim.

Just one month on from the Met Police data breach which saw the details of over 47,000 officers compromised, another serious cyber attack has taken place.

An investigation is underway after a third-party supplier for Greater Manchester Police force was targeted. The hack means thousands of officers and staff members are at risk of their personal information being released into the public domain.

What data has been breached?

The firm, responsible for producing GMPs identification badges and warrant cards is believed to hold sensitive information such as:

• Names
• Identity numbers
• Photographs

Whilst, at this time, it is believed that home addresses and financial information was not accessed during the breach it is believed that some Geo Location data may have been accessed and those affected are waiting to hear from GMP further.

While the full scale of the data breach is not yet known, a spokesperson from the force has announced they have particular concerns regarding the identities of undercover police officers.

Mike Peake, Chair of the Greater Manchester Police Federation, said “Our colleagues are undertaking some of the most difficult and dangerous roles imaginable to catch criminals and keep the public safe.

“To have any personal details potentially leaked out into the public domain in this manner – for all to possibly see – will understandably cause many officers concern and anxiety.

“We are working with the force to mitigate the dangers and risks that this breach could have on our colleagues.”

Anyone whose personal information has been compromised in the Greater Manchester Police data breach may be in the position to claim compensation. Our dedicated team of data breach solicitors will help you understand whether this is an option available to you, and if so, how to navigate the process of making a claim.

What to do if you are concerned about the Greater Manchester Police data breach

Under any circumstances, if personal information falls into the wrong hands, there is a risk of severe consequential damage, but for police officers and law enforcement staff, the risk is even more significant. Therefore, if you have been affected by the Greater Manchester Police data breach, we completely understand you may feel concerned, or are unsure about what to do next.

Under data protection laws, any organisation that is responsible for holding your personal data has a legal duty to keep that data secure. If they fail to do this and your data is compromised, the organisation must inform you as soon as possible.

If you are yet to be contacted by the GMP and you believe you have been impacted by the data breach, we would advise you to get in touch with them as soon as you can.

It is also important that you remain vigilant. When your data is breached, you are more likely to be the subject of phishing attacks, fraud and scams. It is possible that criminals who have access to your information will endeavour to obtain additional sensitive material from you. Therefore, it is vital to be extremely cautious of any unanticipated communications that may reach out via text, email or telephone.

Luckily, there are several steps you can take to safeguard yourself against the misuse of your private information. To learn more about this, we would encourage you to read our guide on what to do if your data has been stolen in a data breach.

If your data has been exposed in the Greater Manchester Police data breach, you could be entitled to claim compensation. Our dedicated team of data breach specialists are available to provide you with the advice and support you need to secure the compensation you rightfully deserve.

How Hayes Connor can help you claim compensation for the Greater Manchester Police data breach

If your information has been compromised in the Greater Manchester Police data breach, you have the right to make a claim, whether you have suffered specific harm or not.

At Hayes Connor, we are proud to be one of the largest teams of data breach specialists in the country, with a wealth of expertise surrounding all areas of data breach laws.

During your initial consultation, we will work with you to understand the specific details of your personal situation and how the data breach has impacted you. Once we have all the necessary information, we will be able to provide tailored advice on how best to proceed.

We understand that making a data breach compensation claim can seem like a daunting and confusing task, but it doesn’t need to be.

To start a claim for the Greater Manchester Police data breach, you can use our online enquiry form.

If you would prefer to speak to a member of our team directly, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0330 041 5130.