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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Personnel records stolen from MoD | Personnel records stolen from MoD |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is investigating the theft of computer files with the records of thousands of serving and former RAF staff on. | |
| The information was stored on computer hard drives at the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency at the RAF Innsworth site near Gloucester. | The information was stored on computer hard drives at the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency at the RAF Innsworth site near Gloucester. |
| The theft of the files took place last Wednesday, within a high-security area on the base. | The theft of the files took place last Wednesday, within a high-security area on the base. |
| The MoD has set up a helpline for people who have been affected. | The MoD has set up a helpline for people who have been affected. |
| It said it was treating the breach "extremely seriously". | It said it was treating the breach "extremely seriously". |
| 900,000 personnel | 900,000 personnel |
| A spokesman for the MoD police said: "We can confirm that an investigation is being conducted by MoD police, with the support of Gloucestershire Police into the apparent theft of three USB portable hard disk drives. | A spokesman for the MoD police said: "We can confirm that an investigation is being conducted by MoD police, with the support of Gloucestershire Police into the apparent theft of three USB portable hard disk drives. |
| "In view of the ongoing nature of police inquiries, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage." | "In view of the ongoing nature of police inquiries, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage." |
| It is not yet clear what information was stored on the disk drives or how many people's records were affected. | |
| But two of the drives are believed to have contained potentially sensitive personal data, while the third hard drive did not contain any personal data. | But two of the drives are believed to have contained potentially sensitive personal data, while the third hard drive did not contain any personal data. |
| The agency provides support services for some 900,000 serving and ex-service personnel. The first priority has to be ensuring that nobody's security has been put at risk Nick Harvey, Lib Dem defence spokesman | |
| Nick Harvey, Lib Dem defence spokesman, said: "This is just the latest in a seemingly endless stream of stories involving personal information being lost or stolen. | Nick Harvey, Lib Dem defence spokesman, said: "This is just the latest in a seemingly endless stream of stories involving personal information being lost or stolen. |
| "The first priority has to be ensuring that nobody's security has been put at risk, but we also need a serious look at the way such sensitive data is being handled. | "The first priority has to be ensuring that nobody's security has been put at risk, but we also need a serious look at the way such sensitive data is being handled. |
| "The current situation is unacceptable." | "The current situation is unacceptable." |
| Former shadow minister for homeland security, Patrick Mercer, said if the theft was an "internal job" he would be even more concerned. | Former shadow minister for homeland security, Patrick Mercer, said if the theft was an "internal job" he would be even more concerned. |
| "If this was some sort of opportunity theft by, you know, 'Joe Burglar' - fine. | "If this was some sort of opportunity theft by, you know, 'Joe Burglar' - fine. |
| "But if we're saying that this is an internal job which is targeted at some specific form of information, then I'm afraid my alarm bells ring even more." | "But if we're saying that this is an internal job which is targeted at some specific form of information, then I'm afraid my alarm bells ring even more." |
| Former government defence advisor Air Vice Marshall Tony Mason, from Cheltenham, said: "If the material was important enough to be in a high security department, locked in a high security cabinet, there should be a record of that material going in and out. | |
| "One thing I couldn't establish was what proportion of the information has gone astray, but I would be very, very surprised if this was a break-in from outside." | |
| Concerned serving and former RAF personnel can e-mail rafdata@spva.mod.uk or phone the helpline on 0800 085 3600. |