Personal Data of 100,000 UK Police Officers Leaked on Dark Web After Database Breach

LONDON, Aug 3: Personal information belonging to around 100,000 UK police officers has been exposed on the dark web following a cyberattack on a key law enforcement database, raising concerns over the safety of officers involved in criminal investigations.

The breach targeted the Police National Legal Database (PNLD), an online legal resource used by Home Office police forces across the United Kingdom. The leaked information reportedly includes officers’ names, contact details and force affiliations.

The incident was reported as part of a wider wave of cyberattacks targeting British public institutions, with recent breaches affecting the Ministry of Defense, the Home Office, the National Crime Agency and the Crown Prosecution Service, according to The Times.

The latest breach follows a cyberattack on the Department for Education, where more than 500,000 records were reportedly exposed online.

Authorities suspect the cybercriminal group ExfilSquad was behind the police database breach, which is believed to be part of a broader campaign targeting Western organizations.

One police staff member whose details were leaked said the exposure was deeply concerning, particularly for officers who have worked on serious organized crime cases and faced threats because of their roles.

The individual said some officers had previously needed security measures, including moving to safe accommodation, and warned that leaked personal information could create additional risks.

The PNLD is widely used by police officers across England and Wales to access legal guidance for daily policing duties. England and Wales employ around 145,550 full-time police officers, making the breach one of the largest exposures of UK law enforcement personnel data.

Cybersecurity experts and authorities are investigating the breach and assessing the potential impact on affected officers. The attack comes amid growing concerns over ransomware and data extortion campaigns targeting government agencies and critical institutions.