Merseyside Police Start Cyber Security Awareness at Anfield 2026

Key Points

• Cyber Security Awareness Month began with a Cyber Connect event organized at Anfield Stadium belonging to Liverpool FC on Tuesday 6th October 2026, organized by Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit in collaboration with Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell.
• “According to Det Sgt Gavin from Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit, it is increasingly being noticed that cybercrime now impacts small and medium businesses because of poor security practices,” the article states.
• Det Sgt Darren Devonport, Paul Benson from North West Cyber Resilience Centre, Ben Sefton from Insightful AI, and cyber resilience expert Jenny Lam were some of the key speakers at the event.
• The event was comprised of real cases, investigations of ransomware attacks and insider threats, and an interactive simulation of a cyber attack.
• Small and Medium-sized enterprises constituted 62% of all reports of organizational cybercrime when business size was known, with SMEs under 50 employees constituting 45%.
• The services offered are free and available all year round through Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit, NWROCU, North West Cyber Resilience Centre, Cyber Essentials, and Police Cyber Alarm.
• Cybercrime and fraud victims can report their cases through reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

Anfield (Liverpool standard) October 07, 2026 – Businesses across Merseyside gathered at Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium on Tuesday 6 October as Merseyside Police launched its Cyber Security Awareness Month with a dedicated Cyber Connect event. The initiative, led by the force’s Cybercrime Unit and supported by Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, brought together public and private sector representatives to examine emerging cyber risks and practical steps to strengthen resilience against threats including ransomware and AI-enabled scams.

What is Cyber Connect and why was it launched in Merseyside?

As reported by Owen Arands of Hits Radio, Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit kicked off Cyber Security Awareness Month with the Anfield event, describing it as a month-long programme focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). According to coverage by the Wirral Globe, the event was organised by Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit in partnership with Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell to engage directly with organisations across the region.

Detective Sergeant Danny Gavin from the Cybercrime Unit told attendees that cybercrime is not only a concern for large organisations, noting that small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly impacted due to less established security practices. He added that Cyber Security Awareness Month provides an opportunity to share practical advice and help businesses build resilience against evolving threats such as ransomware and AI-enabled cybercrime.

Who spoke at the Cyber Connect event at Anfield?

The event featured presentations from multiple cyber security professionals and practitioners. As reported by the Wirral Globe, speakers included Detective Sergeant Darren Devonport, who discussed investigations involving ransomware and insider threats, as well as Paul Benson of the North West Cyber Resilience Centre and Ben Sefton of Insightful AI. Hits Radio’s coverage confirmed that delegates heard from the same speakers about cyber security support and the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence.

A key part of the day was an interactive cyber-attack simulation led by Jenny Lam, a specialist in cyber resilience. The simulation challenged participants to experience how an attack can affect every part of an organisation, reinforcing the message that cyber security is a business-wide responsibility.

What threats are businesses facing according to police?

Merseyside Police highlighted ransomware as one of the most disruptive cyber threats facing organisations. According to both the Wirral Globe and Hits Radio, criminals often gain access through phishing emails or unpatched systems before encrypting files and stealing data.

The National Cyber Security Centre recommends organisations maintain secure offline backups, apply security updates promptly, and use multi-factor authentication wherever possible. Detective Sergeant Darren Devonport gave a talk on the current cyber threat landscape, real-life case studies including ransomware and insider threats, and how law enforcement responds to cyber incidents.

Merseyside Police also said it is seeing a national rise in the suspected criminal use of artificial intelligence, which is reflected locally. Detective Sergeant Gavin added that one of the strongest messages from the event was that cyber security is a business-wide responsibility, and that successful organisations combine good technical controls, well-trained staff, and clear incident response plans.

How prevalent is cybercrime among SMEs in the UK?

Latest figures cited by Merseyside Police show SMEs made up 62% of organisational reports where business size was known. Organisations with fewer than 50 employees accounted for 45% of reports.

As reported by Owen Arands of Hits Radio, the month-long programme is focused on SMEs, which continue to account for a significant proportion of cybercrime reports nationally. Detective Sergeant Gavin said small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly impacted by cybercrime due to lesser established cyber security practices.

What support is available for businesses after the event?

Businesses that could not attend are reminded that support is available year-round. SMEs can access free cyber security advice and training through Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU).

Merseyside Police is encouraging organisations to work towards Cyber Essentials certification, the government-backed programme designed to help organisations defend against common cyber threats through five key technical controls. Businesses can also contact the North West Cyber Resilience Centre, which offers free membership, training and fully funded regional support programmes for SMEs.

Another option is to register for Police Cyber Alarm, the free police-backed service that helps organisations identify vulnerabilities and understand suspicious activity targeting their networks.

What did the Police and Crime Commissioner say?

Emily Spurrell, Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, said cybercrime is one of the fastest-growing threats facing businesses and organisations today, and the reality is that no organisation is immune. As reported by the Wirral Globe, she said events such as Cyber Connect play a vital role in bringing together businesses, policing and specialist partners to share knowledge, build awareness and learn from one another.

In comments reported by Hits Radio, Spurrell added that as technology continues to evolve, so do the tactics used by criminals, from ransomware attacks to increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled scams. She said by working together, sharing information and building strong partnerships, organisations can stay one step ahead of cyber criminals, protect the services people rely on and ensure Merseyside remains a safe and secure place to live, work and do business.

How can victims report cybercrime or fraud?

Victims of cybercrime or fraud are encouraged to report it via reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. Anyone with information about those committing cybercrime or fraud can pass it on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via the online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Background of the development

Cyber Security Awareness Month originated in the United States in 2004 as a joint initiative between the Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance, and has since become a global event with governments and cyber-focused organisations promoting awareness. This year’s international campaign theme is “See Yourself in Cyber”, emphasising that cybersecurity is ultimately about people and encouraging individuals to see themselves as part of the solution. The Merseyside launch via Cyber Connect aligns with this broader effort, adapting the message to local businesses through police-led engagement, real-life case studies, and practical resilience measures.

Prediction: How this development can affect Merseyside businesses

If the Cyber Connect initiative and associated awareness activities lead to wider adoption of basic controls such as multi-factor authentication, regular patching, offline backups, and staff training, Merseyside SMEs could see a reduction in successful ransomware and phishing incidents over the next 12 to 24 months. Greater uptake of Cyber Essentials and Police Cyber Alarm may also improve early detection of vulnerabilities and suspicious network activity, potentially lowering downtime and recovery costs after attacks. However, if AI-enabled scams continue to evolve faster than defensive measures, businesses that do not engage with the available support may face heightened risk, particularly those with limited in-house IT expertise.