Plymouth City Council boosts cyber security amid rising threats

BBC News

26-07-2025

Plymouth City Council has said it is ramping up its cyber security measures to guard against increasing threats.The council said it was introducing stricter computer protocols, including locking users out of their systems if they fail to update their devices within 30 days, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. At a scrutiny management board meeting, councillor Sue Dann, cabinet member for human resources, stressed the importance of vigilance. "We have the responsibility to do due diligence, we will be chasing people up to watch training videos," she said.
Cyber attacks and phishing attempts, where an attacker attempts to steal your money, or your identity, by getting you to reveal personal information, were a constant concern, Dann added."When I was lord mayor my account was attacked three times and emails went out to all councillors asking for money," she said.Half of all emails sent to the council were flagged as spam or threats and blocked.Councillor Charlotte Holloway raised concerns about the city's exposure, asking whether additional support was available. Officials confirmed while no specific aid was provided, the council's IT partner actively monitored and responded to risks.