A damning picture of MoD incompetence

The recent announcement that the Ministry of Defence lost a laptop containing sensitive information for more than 600,000 individuals adds up to a damning picture of MoD incompetence.

In many ways this is worse than the loss of the child benefits records because we know this information fell into criminal hands since it was stolen by a criminal. This could be used for identify theft or worse, for terrorist use.

Now we have learned that two more laptops containing similar information have been stolen but neither of these incidents were reported to Ministers.

Why not?

Clearly, we don’t know what risks will be faced by those whose information is on the databases - it will depend on whose hands it has fallen into. But to put our troops and the public at risk in this way is unforgivable. This seems like a systemic failure within the MoD, not a single act of incompetence or irresponsibility.

We now know that 68 MoD laptops were stolen in 2007, 66 in 2006, 40 in 2005, and 173 in 2004. What on earth is going on? How much information on our service personnel is floating around out there? Most importantly, why has nothing been done about it given that it has been happening for years? Unbelievable!

This Government has been shown to have a cavalier approach to the confidential details of UK citizens. The security aspects make it much worse in this case.

This will have a damaging effect on confidence and morale of our forces and will do nothing to solve the crisis in recruitment and retention. This mess requires a total commitment to put it right. Even the Des Browne must realise this is no job for a part-timer.