Lost data disc 'has not fallen into wrong hands'

A lost computer disc containing personal details about thousands of justice staff is not thought to have fallen into the wrong hands, a Government minister said today.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw yesterday ordered an urgent inquiry into the incident, the latest in a string of embarrassing Government data losses including the disappearance last year of two discs containing details of 25 million Child Benefit claimants.

Prison officers believe their personal security has been put at risk, and unions are warning that staff may have to be relocated, at a potential cost of millions to the taxpayer, in order to ensure their safety.

The hard-drive was last seen by contractors EDS in July 2007, but it was not until July this year that the private contractor informed the Prison Service and Mr Straw himself did not learn of the loss until it was uncovered by the News of the World yesterday.

The 500GB disc contained personal details including the names, dates of birth, National Insurance numbers and employee numbers of 5,000 people employed by the National Offender Management Service, who may include many prison officers as well as administrative staff and other workers.

It was shipped from offices at Mitcheldean in Gloucestershire in July 2007 for testing at a data centre in Washington, Tyne and Wear, and then moved to an EDS facility in Telford, Shropshire. It was only when an employee went to use it on 2 July this year that it was realised that it had gone missing.

Data protection minister Michael Wills today told the BBC: "We believe the data is not in the public domain and therefore there are not significant risks to security.

"But obviously we take all steps necessary to mitigate any threat to personal safety."

In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Straw said: "I am extremely concerned about this missing data. I was informed of its loss at lunchtime today (Saturday) and have ordered an urgent inquiry into the circumstances and the implications of the data loss and the level of risk involved.

"I have also asked for a report as to why I was not informed as soon as my department became aware of this issue. My officials are also in touch with EDS as part of these processes. We take these matters extremely seriously."

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman added: "We believe nearly all of this data related to financial information - for example, invoices from Prison Service suppliers.

"However, we believe there is also a limited amount of personal information on around 5,000 NOMS employees including their names, dates of birth, National Insurance numbers and employee numbers."

Prison Officers' Association national chairman Colin Moses said: "We are extremely concerned that not only has this data been lost, but that the Prison Service appear to have tried to conceal this serious breach in security.

"It is a breach that we believe could ultimately cost the taxpayer millions and millions of pounds, because, if the information lost is personal and sensitive, it may well mean staff having to move prisons, move homes and relocate their families.

"This obviously will have a significant cost to the taxpayer.

"We believe that the people who have tried to conceal this serious breach should be brought to account and we are calling on Jack Straw to fully investigate this matter and ensure that justice is seen to be done."

A spokesman for EDS said: "EDS can confirm that a hard drive containing data relating to the Ministry of Justice has been lost.

"We take this matter very seriously and we are working with the Ministry of Justice to confirm the level of risk and provide a detailed analysis of the situation and the remedies that should be undertaken."

Shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert said: "The records of prisoners have been lost already and now we discover that personal data about prison officers has gone too.

"When was this incompetent Government planning to own up to another data disaster - this time one which has put the security of thousands of its own employees at risk - and if, as they claim, they didn't know about this until now, who on earth is actually running the department?"

Liberal Democrat justice spokesman David Howarth said: "The Government has shown once again that it cannot handle large amounts of data. Why it is persisting with the ID card scheme is beyond comprehension and it should be dropped immediately.

"All departments were asked to trawl their systems and reveal all data losses last year, so this smacks of a disturbing culture of secrecy and cover-up."

The Ministry of Justice has contacted the Information Commissioner's Office about the incident and will update Commissioner Richard Thomas on the incident tomorrow, said a spokesman.

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