Security threats Toolkit

MoJ lost sensitive data on 1,500 staff

Kable

Published: 24 Sep 2009 09:11 BST

The Ministry of Justice lost an encrypted memory stick containing the personal details of 1,500 people in March this year.

Budget spreadsheets which included the names, national insurance and employee numbers of MoJ staff were on the stick which was lost by an employee, according to the department's resource accounts for 2008-09.

The accounts also recorded an incident which occurred in September last year affecting 256 people, when IT supplier EDS lost a portable hard drive. It contained personal information about HM Prison Service staff and was being used to transfer data between systems.

Both incidents were reported to the information commissioner.

An MoJ spokesperson said: "Whilst any loss of data is regrettable all, MoJ incidents have been reported and the necessary action taken.

"A dedicated Information Assurance Programme has been established for the coming year to address information risks and inspire public trust and confidence. All staff have now undertaken mandatory training to raise their awareness of the vital importance of data security."