Data on 130,000 criminals lost

Telegraph ^ | Aug 22, 2008 | Robert Winnett and Jon Swaine

[driftdiver]

Confidential information on almost 130,000 prisoners and dangerous criminals has been lost by the Home Office, sparking yet another Government data crisis.

The loss of the details, which were stored on an unencypted computer memory stick, has raised fears that the taxpayer may now face a multi-million pound compensation bill from criminals whose safety may have been compromised and police informants who could be at risk of reprisals.

The home addresses of some of Britain's most prolific and serious offenders - including those who have committed violent and sexual crimes - are understood to be among the missing data.

A full investigation is now underway to find the memory stick – containing information on all 84,000 prisoners in England and Wales, including some release dates, plus details of 43,000 most serious and persistent offenders – which was descibed as a 'toxic liability' by David Smith, the Deputy Information Commissioner.

The Conservatives have said taxpayers will be "absolutely outraged" and demanded that Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, make a statement on the incident. Dominic Grieve, the shadow Home Secretary, said he was "absolutely horrified" by the breach and the "government incompetence" that he said caused it. The Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "Charlie Chaplin could do a better job of running the Home Office than this Labour Government."

[driftdiver]

Confidential info on a memory stick. What a bunch of clowns. And to think that people trust their medical care to this bunch of bumblin fools.

[NonValueAdded]

from criminals whose safety may have been compromised

Aw, the poor little babies. I mean it's not like they threaten our safety or anything. It would do the illegitimate sons of female dogs good to live in fear for a change.

[weegee]

And WHY was someone carrying the data on 130,000 individuals around?

All of society is a "number" to those in charge.

[driftdiver]

Yeah I don’t feel for the criminals but this is indicative of a govt that is completely incompetent. Read the comments at the end of the story, some are pretty good.

[weegee]

"may have been compromised and police informants who could be at risk of reprisals."

[driftdiver]

“And WHY was someone carrying the data on 130,000 individuals around?”

IMO it doesn’t matter that its criminals. Sure some of them are scum but I’d imagine some are not. Regardless memory sticks should not be used to carry around confidential data. Unencrypted to boot.

These are the same folks with access to our Top Secret national security information. Heck Iran doesn’t need to make their own rockets or nukes. They can probably steel them from the UK.