Latest news with #JohnCampion
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Shropshire school cyber attack prevented pupils from submitting work
A cyber attack left pupils in schools unable to submit coursework for weeks, a Shropshire councillor has said. A meeting of the West Mercia Police and Crime Panel was told that the force's cyber unit had supported several "high-impact investigations, including a ransomware attack affecting 11 schools".A "sensitive case involving AI-generated imagery at two schools" and cryptocurrency related matters were also dealt with, however neither the schools nor the areas they are in were identified at Monday's meeting. But Bagley councillor Benedict Jephcott said he was aware of an issue in Shropshire that the ransomware matter in the committee papers may relate to. Jephcott said it was connected to a multi-academy chain and may not have happened if it had "not enforced integration across sites".The ransomware attack – which prevented the school accessing information and systems unless a ransom was paid – led to "pupils being unable to submit coursework through their computer systems for many, many weeks", he large secondary school did not have a single working printer due to the attack, stated the councillor, who believed that disconnecting equipment could be a way to stop the issues. Jephcott asked police and crime commissioner (PCC) John Campion if interventions were planned to help the community defend itself against cyber attacks. Campion said he thought it was a balance between individuals taking responsibility and the police having a response to criminals. The PCC compared the issue to a householder leaving their front door open and being burgled and those who take preventative measures to stop being victims of he added there was not enough understanding of cyber attacks, and the force was doing more to engage with people on the issue, including regular radio interviews, leaflet drops and digital news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Police seize £618k in drugs in county lines crackdown
Eight drug lines have been dismantled in the West Mercia Police area during a week of action, the force says. Drugs with an estimated value of £618,000 were seized by officers along with more than £77,000 in cash and 20 weapons. Police also made 65 crackdown on county lines networks from 23 June formed part of Operation Target, the force's campaign to tackle serious and organised crime. the force worked alongside Merseyside Police, West Midlands Police, British Transport Police and partner agencies, including councils and housing associations. Drugs seized included a "large amount of cannabis, crack cocaine, powdered cocaine and heroin".Machetes, swords, knives and a crossbow were among the weapons recovered. 'Hostile environment' Officers made 34 visits to addresses believed to be forcibly used for drug dealing and as a result, safeguarded 14 vulnerable young people and adults, the force said. The force also went to schools and community events to raise awareness of the dangers and signs of county lines Ch Insp Jo Woods said: "Organised crime gangs seek to profit from the exploitation of vulnerable people, spreading misery, intimidation and violence in the name of profit."Our aim is to create a hostile environment for these individuals who wish to cause harm to members of our communities." Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said he continued to back the force with its year-round efforts to break supply said: "Drugs devastate communities, from addiction all the way to the exploitation of the most vulnerable in our society." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PCC says police spending increase not enough
A police and crime commissioner (PCC) has said the increase in police funding announced in the chancellor's Spending Review would not be enough to prevent cuts. The government said the "spending power" of police forces would go up by an average 2.3% per year in real terms by 2029, assuming local taxes go up too. But John Campion, the Conservative PCC for West Mercia, said policing had been "short-changed". He said financial pressures were likely to lead to police officers having to fill in for office-based staff. Yesterday, Mr Campion said the force and his office were looking to cut staffing costs to reduce their budgets. That could mean staff working fewer hours or choosing to leave their jobs in return for a payout. Speaking after the spending announcements by Rachel Reeves, he said: "Whilst more money is available, it's simply not enough at a time when pressure on the police has never been greater as we balance inflation, pay rises, National Insurance contributions and demand." He also said West Mercia Police did not "receive its fair share of government funding". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Key points at a glance from the Spending Review Seven ways the Spending Review will affect you Police force looks to make staff cuts to save money West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
West Mercia PCC says police spending increase not enough
A police and crime commissioner (PCC) has said the increase in police funding announced in the chancellor's Spending Review would not be enough to prevent government said the "spending power" of police forces would go up by an average 2.3% per year in real terms by 2029, assuming local taxes go up John Campion, the Conservative PCC for West Mercia, said policing had been "short-changed".He said financial pressures were likely to lead to police officers having to fill in for office-based staff. Yesterday, Mr Campion said the force and his office were looking to cut staffing costs to reduce their could mean staff working fewer hours or choosing to leave their jobs in return for a after the spending announcements by Rachel Reeves, he said: "Whilst more money is available, it's simply not enough at a time when pressure on the police has never been greater as we balance inflation, pay rises, National Insurance contributions and demand."He also said West Mercia Police did not "receive its fair share of government funding". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
West Mercia Police looks to make staff cuts to save money
The police force which serves Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire plans to make staff cuts to save Mercia Police and the office of the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) said they had "had to make significant savings and improve efficiencies".Police officer numbers will not be affected but other staff will be asked if they want to reduce their hours or resign.A joint statement said: "We believe these measures, along with a police staff recruitment freeze, will help stabilise our financial position." It added that they had already made a number of redundancies in non-police officer roles which had "helped achieve crucial savings" but more was who resign from either organisation will be receive a lump-sum the police force, or the office of the PCC, have said how many positions will be affected or how much money they aim to January, the West Mercia PCC, John Campion, warned up to 150 staff jobs could go to balance the books. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
