A third-party supplier which makes warrant cards for various UK organisations was targeted in a cyber attack.

Personal details belonging to GMP officers have been hacked following a cyber attack on a third-party supplier, making the force the latest to be impacted by a data breach.

The ransomware attack has affected a company which makes warrant cards and holds information on various UK organisations alongside GMP.

Financial information isn't believed to be among the information compromised, at this stage.

Assistant chief constable Colin McFarlane said: "This is being treated extremely seriously, with a nationally-led criminal investigation into the attack.

"We understand how concerning this is for our employees so, as we work to understand any impact on GMP, we have contacted the Information Commissioners Office and are doing everything we can to ensure employees are kept informed, their questions are answered, and they feel supported."

Mike Peake, Chair of the GMP 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.”

News of this latest breach comes just over two weeks after the personal details of Met officers were accessed in another incident involving an external supplier.

On Wednesday the NPCC cyber lead told the Police Digital Summit that policing is having "to learn on its feet" after a series of incidents.

Cumbria, Norfolk and Suffolk are among the forces to have reported data breaches in recent weeks, while the PSNI has been rocked by three separate incidents - including a breach which impacted almost 10,000 officers and staff.