Hessische Hochschule für öffentliches Management und Sicherheit (HöMS)

The organisation is a higher education institution that provides education and training in the fields of public management and security. It operates under the name Hochschule für Polizei und Verwaltung (HfPV) and is also known as the Hessische Hochschule für öffentliches Management und Sicherheit (HöMS). Its primary mission is to prepare students, police officers, and public administration professionals for careers in governmental service and safety-related roles. The institution delivers academic programmes and professional courses that are tailored to the needs of the public sector in Germany.

Located in Germany, the organisation serves the regional public sector of the state of Hesse, as indicated by its Hessian designation. While specific figures regarding student enrolment or staff numbers are not disclosed in the available information, its reach extends to students, former employees, lecturers, and business partners who interact with its educational and administrative functions. The institution’s activities are confined to the German higher education landscape, focusing on specialised training for public service occupations.

A distinguishing attribute of the organisation is its specialised focus on the intersection of public management and security, which sets it apart from more general universities. This specialisation aligns with its role in providing targeted training for law enforcement and administrative personnel, supporting regulatory and operational requirements within the public safety domain. Its positioning as a dedicated university for police and administration underscores its sector‑specific competence and its contribution to professionalising public service work in Hesse.

Structurally, the organisation is a state‑run institution of the German state of Hesse, reflecting its public ownership and its integration into the regional higher education system. There is no indication of private ownership or subsidiary relationships in the provided sources, and it functions as an autonomous entity under Hessian governmental oversight. This public status reinforces its accountability to state authorities and its adherence to regional educational standards.

In February 2024, the organisation experienced a cyberattack on its legacy network infrastructure that potentially exposed personal data spanning over a decade, including names, addresses, contact information, images, licence plates, and possibly tax, banking, and health details such as medical certificates and vaccination records. The breach affected a broad group comprising current and former students, employees, lecturers, and business partners, raising concerns about privacy violations, identity theft, and social engineering exploits. In response, the institution filed criminal charges, notified affected individuals in accordance with GDPR obligations, established a dedicated contact point for inquiries, and continues to cooperate with ongoing law‑enforcement and prosecutorial investigations. The incident highlighted vulnerabilities in older IT systems and prompted a review of data protection measures within the organisation.