- A watchdog report has warned that police and fire services in England and Wales are inadequately safeguarded against cyber attacks due to an over-reliance on legacy technology.
- His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services found that senior leaders view obsolete ICT systems as their highest strategic security risk.
- The inspection revealed vulnerabilities driven by human error, including weak password management, a lack of multi-factor authentication, and poor oversight of external contractors.
- Senior leaders often lack technical expertise and fail to consider cybersecurity a core operational priority, leading to underinvestment in digital defences.
- Inspector Michelle Skeer called for urgent modernisation, baseline security standards, and the establishment of a national digital management centre for the fire service.
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