Hertfordshire Constabulary ’s website has been hacked and data from it published on internet by activists thought to be linked with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

The force said no residents’ data or personal information was lost in the breach of the Safer Neighbourhoods section of its site.

However police have launched an investigation into the hacking and have disabled the pages on their website.

In a statement a spokesman for the force said: “Hertfordshire Constabulary is currently investigating following the publication on the internet of information stored on a database linked to the public Safer Neighbourhoods pages of the external Constabulary website.

“As a precaution these pages have been temporarily disabled whilst the circumstances as to how this information was obtained is investigated.

“Hertfordshire Constabulary can confirm that the externally hosted system from where it appears the information has come is not linked to any internal force system and there is absolutely no suggestion that any personal data relating to officers or members of the public has been, or could have been compromised.

“Nevertheless matters of IT security are extremely important to the Constabulary and an investigation is already underway.”

The information stolen from the police's website later appeared on a website under banner OpFreeAssange.

Julian Assange is currently involved in a high-profile standoff with police after he fled to the Ecuador embassy in London to escape extradition to Sweden in connection with sex assault allegations made against him.