GMP computers crippled by virus

GREATER Manchester Police’s computer system has been crippled by a costly virus.

Officers have been cut off from a national criminal database and other criminal justice systems for more than four days to prevent it spreading. It means officers have been asking neighbouring forces to carry out national checks on names and vehicles.

IT experts disconnected GMP from the Police National Computer after finding the conficker virus on Friday, which quickly knocked down internet connections and e-mail accounts, and have been working round the clock to fix the problem.

They were expecting to give the all clear this morning, allowing them to reconnect.

The conficker virus, a malicious worm, is believed to have infected up to 15 million computers around the world.

It’s believed the virus may have been introduced by a member of staff plugging a personal memory stick into a computer.