Forensic firm used by police targeted in cyber attack

Fears that evidence may have been compromised after two day ransomware onslaught

(EPA)

A criminal probe has been launched after a forensics firm widely used by police to help with investigations was targeted in a cyber attack.

There are fears key evidence may have been compromised after Eurofins Scientific – which is used by forces across the UK – was hit by a two day ransomware onslaught at the start of June.

Submissions to the firm, which are thought to include finger print and other crime scene data, have now been temporarily suspended, while the National Crime Agency leads an investigation into the attack.

Rob Jones, the NCA’s director of threat leadership, said: "Specialist cyber-crime officers are working with partners from the National Cyber Security Centre and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to mitigate the risks and assess the nature of this incident.

"We are securing evidence and forensically analysing infected computers, but due to the quantity of data involved and the complexity of these kinds of inquiries, this is an investigation which will take time."

Chief Constable James Vaughan, the NPCC lead for forensics, said: "As a result of the ransomware attack against Eurofins Scientific, we have temporarily suspended all law enforcement submissions to their forensic science subsidiary.

"Our priority – alongside the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners – is to minimise the impact on the criminal justice system.

"We have put our national contingency plans in place, which will see urgent submissions and priority work diverted to alternative suppliers to be dealt with as quickly as possible.

"It is too early to fully quantify the impact but we are working at pace with partners to understand and mitigate the risks."

Louise Haigh, Labour’s shadow crime and policing minister, urged police to work quickly to establish the facts of the case.

She said: “This is the latest in a long line of failures in the forensics market: there is a criminal investigation into manipulation of forensic samples ongoing at another major provider, and countless forensic providers are failing to meet the bare minimum standards.”