Title

DIGITAL

Council hit by suspected ransomware attack

St Helens BC has put in place extra security measures after a suspected ransomware attack on its IT systems and networks.

St Helens BC has put in place extra security measures after a suspected ransomware attack on its IT systems and networks.

The council said it immediately alerted its external cyber security contractor once the attack was identified last week and an investigation has been launched.

A spokesperson said: ‘Some internal systems to the council are currently being affected due to the actions we have put in place to prevent any further impact and while a full investigation is undertaken.

‘Please be reassured that together with our cyber security specialists we are working to resolve this incident, but obviously this is a very complex and evolving situation.'

DIGITAL

Making the shift

By Christine Marshall | 30 April 2026

As the sector gears up for a new wave of unitarisation, Christine Marshall reflects on the move from districts to a unitary council as executive director for...

DIGITAL

Recruitment, retention and the moment the sector must not waste

By Sarah France-Gorton | 30 April 2026

Sarah France-Gorton says there is a now an unmissable opportunity to solve the recruitment issues facing local government – but warns it’s time to stop askin...

DIGITAL

Fifty years on: Lessons from the Layfield report on local council funding

By Owen Mapley | 29 April 2026

Half a century from the Layfield Report on local government finance, many of the issues it raised remain and have become more complex, says Owen Mapley.

DIGITAL

Closing the confidence gap

By Emmet Regan | 23 April 2026

Emmet Regan looks at why government has lost the confidence to ‘do big things’ and says rebuilding it is a collective endeavour that spans public servants, p...

Popular articles by William Eichler