The Metropolitan Police is on excessive alert following a big safety breach that led to officers' and employees's particulars being hacked.

All 47,000 personnel have been notified concerning the potential publicity of their pictures, names, and ranks, The Sun newspaper reported.

The breach occurred when cybercriminals managed to infiltrate the IT programs of a contractor chargeable for printing warrant playing cards and employees passes.

In response to the report, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police informed Sky News: "We have been made aware of unauthorised access to the IT system of a Met supplier.

"We are working with the corporate to grasp if there was any safety breach regarding Metropolitan Police knowledge."

The firm had entry to names, ranks, pictures, vetting ranges and pay numbers for officers and employees, the Met mentioned.

It added that the corporate "did not hold personal information such as addresses, phone numbers or financial details".

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"Security measures have been taken by the MPS as a result of this report. The MPS has reported the matter to the National Crime Agency. The Information Commissioner's Office is also aware," the Met mentioned.

The Sun additionally reported that the National Crime Agency had been known as in amid fears terrorists or organised gangs might use the stolen knowledge.

Met Police Service bosses additionally despatched a message to their employees, urging them to "remain vigilant".

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It stays unclear whether or not the hackers demanded a ransom from the printing firm or had been trying to focus on officers and employees.

The incident comes after a redacted model of a leaked document that listed the names of police officers in Northern Ireland was posted on a wall dealing with a Sinn Fein workplace in Belfast in a "sinister" try to intimidate considered one of its politicians.

The doc, which had mistakenly been shared on-line, included the names of round 10,000 officers and employees.

Ex-Met commander John O'Connor described the most recent breach as "utterly outrageous", including: "Anyone using these details to produce a warrant card or pass could gain access to a police station or secure area.

"There can also be an enormous concern that pictures of police engaged on undercover models, surveillance or in delicate areas like counter-terrorism might fall into the incorrect fingers.

"This data breach has put safety of police at risk and questions need to be asked about why IT security of this company was so slapdash."