THE hackers who targeted a company which makes warrant cards for the Met are thought to be overseas, The Sun can reveal.
The boss of pass specialists Digital ID in Stockport was sent a ransom demand by crooks from a server abroad last Monday.
However it took five days for the Met to alert its 47,000 cops and civilian staff.
Ex-Met commander John O’Connor said: “That is outrageous.”
The force spent £467,587 on the cards and civilian passes, a Freedom of Information request revealed, after security breaches at police buildings.