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DS Risk Warning: Cyber Critical Update

  Critical Update With thanks to our NPs the S W Cyber Resilience Centre, we bring you their updated advice. Please pay close attention to it, regardless that it flows from the attacks on the retail sector. The approach taken can be applied anywhere! The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued a critical warning following a wave of cyber attacks on major UK retailers including M&S, Co-op and Harrods. These incidents appear to involve criminals impersonating IT help desks to trick staff into revealing login credentials, a technique known as social engineering.   We’re issuing this urgent message to all SWCRC members to raise awareness and encourage immediate action.   What’s happening?   A group calling itself DragonForce has contacted the BBC to claim responsibility for recent breaches. Their tactics include:        •     Phoning IT staff pretending to be locked-out employees       •     Calling or messaging staff pretending to be from internal IT h...
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DS Risk Warning: School Threats

  Hello all, We warned of probable 'copy cat' and other threats to your smooth running recently. Sadly we were right. A Bristol school was targeted on Friday, at the end of last week. A summary of the story is below, but some top tips for you first: * Know your post code and what3words details * Ensure the team that receive calls and/or general emails/mail know what information to try to obtain/gather/what actions to take as calmly as possible * Work on the basis that any challenge will not be convenient and whoever is leader isn't on site and contactable, number 2 is on the sick, so, is number 3 ready and empowered to take the lead? * If you receive a bomb threat ring the Police and discuss with them first its credibility. If there's nothing 'special' about the contact details with you, they won't dash to your site on blues and twos. * When they do arrive, they'll ask who will accompany them on a search, as you'll know your place and they won't!...

Delegated Services Risk Warning: Threat to schools

  Hello all, Sorry to put this before you on the first day back, but we are concerned at the number of reports circulating about lone individuals, who aren't terrorists, who may or may not be autistic, with or without mental health issues, but are obsessed by extreme violence, and that schools may be a legitimate target for them. During the Easter pupil break the following news item appeared: A teenage boy has been arrested after a “threat of violence” was reportedly made against a school in east London, forcing a nursery to close. South Yorkshire police said the boy, 17, had been detained on suspicion of malicious communications. He remains in police custody. St Mary’s School in Walthamstow closed its doors on Monday morning to ensure teachers and staff remained safe after receiving a threat via email. In an email sent to parents shortly after 7.30am, St Mary’s explained it had received the threat, saying it referred to “committing acts of violence to those on our premises” along ...

DS Risk Warning: Safety report issued regarding height adjustable motorised screens

 Hello all, First: You need to take IMMEDIATE safety action if you have these in your buildings.  Second: If they are on order, cancel. Third: Share information with your community in case they are installed in homes. Risk of serious crushing or impact injury to children The Office of Product Safety Standards (OPSS) has issued a product safety report regarding the Conen Motorised Display Wall Mount (SCETAW 2407-0111). There is a risk of serious crushing or impact injury to children which may arise from the equipment detaching from the wall and falling forward. There is also a risk of serious crushing injury to children between the bottom edge of the display screen and any fixed objects. See the attachment for more information. The machine does not satisfy the requirements of The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. Users of these or similar motorised height adjustable display mounts that do not include an anti-collision device or similar protective features...

DS Risk Warning: Weather: Snow and Ice

  Hello all, What a start to T3! As you know, in the case of this level of warning on this subject, due to its extra impact, we give you a heads up! There are 2 warnings currently.  There's possible travel to work disruption to take into account, perhaps as part of your rolling and proportionate plan to open in such circumstances? It isn't common sense!  Do review our special advice from T2 on the subject, if you haven't already and make sure your team is clear about it too? Weather warning   Yellow warning for South West England Snow & ice Between 17:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Jan 2025 and 10:00 (UTC) on Tue 7 Jan 2025 Headline  for above Icy stretches and sleet/snow showers developing overnight, bringing some dis Headline  for below A weather system may push snow into some southern counties of England on Wednesday, which could then prove disruptive.ruption, especially to travel. Snow Between 09:00 (UTC) on Wed 8 Jan 2025 and 23:59 (UTC) on Wed 8 Jan 2025 What ...

DS Risk Warning: Weather; Cold Temperatures

  Hello all, An AMBER warning has been issued with a matrix score of 12, which runs from today at 12PM on the 02/01/2025 until 12PM on 08/01/2025, across the South West.   The warning comes from the following: https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/cold/south-west Here's the grid: Very low impacts Low impacts Medium impacts High impacts High likelihood 4 (green) 8 (yellow) 13 (amber) 16 (red) Medium likelihood 3 (green) 7 (yellow) 12 (amber) 15 (amber) Low likelihood 2 (green) 6 (green) 10 (yellow) 14 (amber) Very low likelihood 1 (green) 5 (green) 9 (yellow) 11 (yellow) They advise: Forecast weather is likely to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including: a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. We may also see impacts on younger age groups a likely increase in demand for health services temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics dropping below the l...