British National Cyber Force Campus

The UK Government is to build a new digital warfare centre in the center of the county of Lancashire, capable of launching “offensive” cyber attacks against hostile powers such as Russia. The £5bn National Cyber Force (NCF)  in Lancashire has been hailed as "a real game-changer" for the Red Rose county. 

The organisation aims to counter threats from criminals, terrorists and hostile states and will  includes officials from MI6, cyber-spy agency GCHQ and the military under a unified command for the first time.

Located in a purpose-built premises in Samlesbury, which has also been a secure location with an aircraft factory for BAE Systems, the new centre will receive more than £5 billion of investment before 2030.

British cabinet Minister Steve Barclay said that “basing the campus at Samlesbury in Lancashire will bring high skilled and well paid jobs to the area, building on our drive to move key public sector roles outside of London... It underlines this government’s important levelling up agenda and our commitment to spread opportunity across the country,” he added. Newly appointed Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said it would "confront aggressive behaviour". A government spokeswoman said it would be "home for thousands of cyber hackers and analysts" and would create hundreds of support jobs in business and legal affairs.

NCF's existence was first made public by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in November 2020. The aim is that, when British armed forces go into combat, cyber operations will work closely with the traditional military, with potential scenarios including operators hacking into enemy air defences. 

Tactics could include disrupting a suspect's mobile phone or a cyber crime group's computer servers to prevent a threat like 2017's WannaCry attack, which took down parts of the NHS and other organisations by scrambling their data. Other methods could include communicating with attackers to undermine their morale and discourage them. 

• "The National Cyber Force will help confront aggressive behaviour from malign actors, and demonstrate that Britain is investing in next-generation defence capability to protect our people and help our friends counter cyber threats...  It sends a powerful message to our allies and adversaries alike." Foreign Secretary Truss said.

• Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who is also the Conservative MP for the nearby Wyre and Preston North constituency, said: "I am hugely proud and enthusiastic to see this happen - not only will it provide a catalyst for investment, but also see our levelling up agenda bring economic stimulus and tangible benefits to this region."

In 2019, intelligence agency GCHQ opened premises in Manchester, which operates alongside its headquarters in Cheltenham and offices in Cornwall and Scarborough. “The hi-tech Manchester premises will be at the heart of the nation’s security, using cutting-edge technology and technical ingenuity to identify and disrupt threats to the UK,” says the spy agency website.

GCHQ:      ITPro:      Gov.UK:      BBC:        Blackpool Gazette:      Lancaster Guardian:   Clitheroe Advertiser: 

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