West Midlands police are investigating the theft of a laptop from a Royal Navy officer which held personal details of 600,000 people, it has been confirmed.
West Midlands police are investigating the theft of a laptop from a Royal Navy officer which held personal details of 600,000 people, it has been confirmed.
Police said the laptop was taken from a vehicle parked overnight in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham.
Police said the laptop was taken from a vehicle parked overnight in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham.
The laptop contains data including passport numbers, National Insurance numbers and bank details.
The laptop contains data including passport numbers, National Insurance numbers and bank details.
They relate to people who had expressed an interest in, or joined, the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the RAF.
They relate to people who had expressed an interest in, or joined, the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the RAF.
The ministry said it was treating the theft with the "utmost seriousness".
The ministry said it was treating the theft with the "utmost seriousness".
The police said they received a report that the laptop had been stolen from a car parked in the Edgbaston area of the city on 10 January and that the theft had occurred overnight.
The police said they received a report that the laptop had been stolen from a car parked in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham on 10 January.
Last November, it emerged that 25m child benefit records had been lost after HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) sent two unregistered and unencrypted discs to the National Audit Office.
Extensive records
Extensive records
"The information held is not the same for every individual," the MoD statement said.
"The information held is not the same for every individual," the MoD statement said.
The Ministry of Defence is treating the loss of this data with the utmost seriousness MoD statement
The idea that someone could have the computer with the information unencrypted, it is on a par with the HMRC loss Simon Davies, Privacy International
"In some cases, for casual enquiries, the record is no more than a name.
"In some cases, for casual enquiries, the record is no more than a name.
"But for those who progressed as far as submitting an application to join the Forces, extensive personal data may be held, including passport details, National Insurance numbers, drivers' licence details, family details, doctors' addresses and National Health Service numbers.
"But for those who progressed as far as submitting an application to join the Forces, extensive personal data may be held, including passport details, National Insurance numbers, drivers' licence details, family details, doctors' addresses and National Health Service numbers.
"The Ministry of Defence is treating the loss of this data with the utmost seriousness."
"The Ministry of Defence is treating the loss of this data with the utmost seriousness."
The MoD said it was writing to 3,500 people whose bank details were on the laptop's database.
The MoD said it was writing to 3,500 people whose bank details were on the laptop's database.
It said it was working with the Association for Payment Clearing Services to inform the relevant banks and ensure that accounts affected are "flagged for scrutiny against unauthorised access".
It said it was working with the Association for Payment Clearing Services to inform the relevant banks and ensure that accounts affected are "flagged for scrutiny against unauthorised access".
Simon Davies, from pressure group Privacy International, told BBC News 24 he was "flabbergasted".
"I cannot believe that our flagship security agency cannot get this right," Mr Davies said.
"The idea that someone could have the computer with the information unencrypted, it is on a par with the HMRC loss."
'Quite concerning'
Mr Davies said the theft was "reminiscent of so many data breaches".
It's just been too easy for data to go missing recently Liam FoxShadow defence secretary
"There are so many procedures and no-one knows which procedure is in place," he said.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox told BBC News 24 that the theft was "clearly quite concerning".
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox told BBC News 24 that the theft was "clearly quite concerning".
"I think that the police will be wanting to check in the first instance that there is no real risk of security lapses," he said.
"I think that the police will be wanting to check in the first instance that there is no real risk of security lapses," he said.
"It's just been too easy for data to go missing recently and we need to look at how to protect the details of the public."
He said he had spoken to Defence Secretary Des Browne and agreed that the matter would be discussed in the House of Commons next week.
He said he had spoken to Defence Secretary Des Browne and agreed that the matter would be discussed in the House of Commons next week.
Douglas Young, from the British Armed Forces Federation, said: "It really is very, very worrying and I'm deeply concerned to hear this.
"There must be a top level investigation."
More information and advice can be obtained by emailing recruitdata@check.mod.uk from 1000GMT on Saturday 19 January.
More information and advice can be obtained by emailing recruitdata@check.mod.uk from 1000GMT on Saturday 19 January.
Anyone with information should contact West Midlands Police on 0845 113 5000.
Anyone with information should contact West Midlands Police on 0845 113 5000.
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