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The NSW Police State Crime Command’s Cybercrime Squad (Cybercrime Squad) is investigating a significant data breach involving the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ).

On Tuesday 25 March 2025, officers in the Cybercrime Squad were notified of a breach to the NSW Online Registry Website which provides access and data relating to civil and criminal matters across the NSW court system.

Cybercrime detectives are investigating the breach after approximately 9000 court files, some containing sensitive information relating to apprehended violence orders and affidavits, were accessed.

“Last week while the cyber unit within DCJ was doing a routine maintenance and security check of the JusticeLink system, they detected that some data within that system had changed. Upon further examination, they had, they worked out that an account holder within the JusticeLink system had gained an unlawful entry into that system. They had accessed 9,000 files. As soon as that breach was detected, the DCJ cyber experts moved quickly to shut down that user’s account and to rectify the vulnerability,” says Attorney General Michael Daley.

“[D]ata hacks now are part of modern life, unfortunately. Governments are not immune. …”

The Attorney General says that at this stage it is not clear what has been done with the data. “We just know that there’s 9,000 files that appear somehow to have been accessed,” he says.

For anyone who is worried about their safety as a result of this data breach, Acting Superintendent Jason Smith from the Cyber Crime Squad in the NSW State Crime Command says “[Y]ou should contact your local police station. Additionally, if you believe that your identity documents have been compromised as a result of any data breach you can reach out to ID Support New South Wales who will provide you [with] assistance in remediating your identity document.”

Jennifer Ball, President of the Law Society of NSW, says “The Law Society of NSW is in contact with the DCJ about Tuesday’s cyber security breach…

“DJC has informed us that the breach has been identified and contained, and that they are working through the documents in order to notify those affected on next steps.

We are committed to supporting the profession and will provide updated information as it becomes available.”