Greater Manchester Police officers have reportedly had their warrant card details stolen in a major data breach, the Manchester Evening News has reported.

The newspaper reported the hack was aimed at a company employed to produce its warrant cards and comes in the wake of a similar attack on the Metropolitan Police in London last month.

The force confirmed information on its employees held by one its suppliers had been subjected to an attack. The National Crime Agency is understood to be investigating.

Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane of Greater Manchester Police said: “We are aware of a ransomware attack affecting a third-party supplier of various UK organisations, including GMP, which holds some information on those employed by GMP. At this stage, it’s not believed this data includes financial information.

“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.

“This is being treated extremely seriously, with a nationally led criminal investigation into the attack.”