Cybersecurity Advisory Bulletin

In light of recent cyber incidents affecting major UK retailers including Co-op and Marks & Spencer, the ASEL team has produced a Customer Cybersecurity Advisory Bulletin. This bulletin is designed to support you in strengthening your organisation’s digital resilience while reinforcing our shared commitment to integrated, high-standard security practices.

OPAL Updates – Organised Retail Crime

Many of you will already be familiar with OPAL—the national police intelligence unit driving Project Pegasus. In 2023, their remit was expanded to focus on Organised Retail Crime (ORC), making them a key force in tackling this growing issue.

ASEL is actively collaborating with OPAL to ensure that any ORC trends or incidents they identify—through data and intelligence from across their customer base—are promptly escalated. This is coordinated through their Crime Intelligence Centre (CIC) to ensure timely and effective action.