Endless spam emails on the way for residents of Stratford District: https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/news/data-breach-at-stratford-district-council/

We are going to see more of this. Many local authority IT systems are hopelessly easy to crack. Universities are another area for easy pickings!

The police have started an investigation, too.

Likely a waste of time, Lex. Any hacker worth their salt will have covered their tracks, it really isn't hard.

Maybe any culpable employee(s) will take early retirement?

Nah, it'll be some grunt that will get the blame; the manager responsible will get off scot free.

As I learned very early in my working life, sh*t only ever flows downhill!

I once took an almighty b*ll*cking over an 'unserviceable' radio fitted to an aircraft. Yes, I fitted and tested it, it was also inspected and tested with the works inspection dept and the Air Ministry inspector. - The problem? And I kid you not, the test pilot didn't know where the volume control was! He was used to his groundcrew setting levels for him, we didn't do it, we preferred to let pilots set their own levels. Did I get an apology? Did I heck!

Data from Warwick District Council was incolved too. What a cock up: https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/news/council-data-breach-impacts-tens-of-thousands-of-south-warwickshire-residents-48396/