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The government department tasked with making policies on data protection has admitted that it mislaid or lost the personal details of 45,000 people. Annual records for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) show the data were on documents and computers before vanishing in nine separate incidents in the past financial year. The laptop at the centre of the last incident, in January 2008, contained 14,000 people’s details but was “inadequately protected” before it was lost from a “secured” building. It was loaded with the names, addresses and dates of births of fine defaulters, of whom 20% were also identified by their national insurance numbers. Officials told the police but failed to notify anyone in June, when, in another incident, the personal details of 27,000 people were leaked by “inadequately protected” computer discs. Names, addresses and bank details of the department’s contractor staff were lost, and remain lost, yet no steps were taken to alert the police or the victims of the “unauthorised disclosure.” Explaining their inaction, officials said disclosing an incident could “create an unacceptable risk of harm,” and may breach data laws such as the Freedom of Information Act. However in each of the nine incidents of data loss, “a risk assessment was carried out to assess who, if anyone, should be notified,” the MoJ said. The department added that in each review, its officials would “ensure measures were in place to mitigate risk to individuals and to prevent a re-occurrence of the incident.” Last week, the Ministry of Justice launched a public consultation on the inspection powers and funding arrangements of the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act. One of the main proposals is to let the commissioner carry out an inspection of data controllers, including government departments, even if he has no reasonable grounds to suspect the act has been breached. Aug 18, 2008 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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