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Around 100,000 UK police officers have been caught up in a major data breach after cybercriminals accessed a key law enforcement database and leaked names, contact details and force affiliations on the dark web, according to The Times.
The breach targeted the Police National Legal Database (PNLD), an online legal resource widely used by police forces across England and Wales to access legal guidance for daily operations. Authorities believe the cybercriminal group ExfilSquad was responsible for the attack, which forms part of a wider campaign targeting Western institutions.
The incident has raised concerns over the safety of serving officers, particularly those involved in sensitive investigations or organised crime cases. An officer said that previous threats linked to their work had already forced them to take security precautions.
The police database breach is the latest in a series of cyberattacks affecting UK public institutions. The campaign has also compromised data linked to the Ministry of Defence, Home Office, National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service, according to reports.
Days earlier, hackers targeted the Department for Education, exposing more than 500,000 records. That breach resulted in 607,000 files being published on the dark web and is believed to have been driven by financial motives rather than political objectives.
ExfilSquad has reportedly warned victims that leaked information would remain available indefinitely unless organisations paid to prevent further consequences. Cybersecurity experts say the exposure of personal details could increase risks including identity theft, targeted scams and attempts to gather further intelligence on individuals.
England and Wales have around 145,550 full-time police officers, and many are believed to have used the PNLD during their careers, potentially widening the impact of the breach.
