Police probe into social services “memory stick loss”

A POLICE probe has been launched into an alleged removal of council data on a memory stick, Bucks Free Press understands.The information was allegedly taken from Buckinghamshire County Council.

The authority and Thames Valley Police confirmed an investigation was ongoing but refused to release further details.

Bucks Free Press has been told the data was taken from social services offices in Easton Street, High Wycombe. The council refused to confirm this.

The news will concern residents after a number of high profile computer data losses throughout the UK.

This came to mass public attention in 2007 with the loss of two compact discs containing details of 25 million families.

Following this, civil service chief Sir Gus O’Donnell said there had to be a “fundamental change in culture” on how data was handled.

Further breaches have occurred, however.

This month a health trust in the north west was rapped for not taking adequate steps to prevent the loss of a memory stick containing details of 6,360 prisoners and ex-prisoners.

A report found “human error” was to blame for the loss from NHS Central Lancashire, a report found.

At least one Buckinghamshire public authority, which manages hospitals, has admitted sending unencrypted data (see link, below).

The council’s data protection policy states it has a “duty to take care with the personal data we hold about individuals”.

It says the authority is updating procedures and “take our responsibilities in this area seriously”.

It is not known the type of data allegedly removed from the council.

Buckinghamshire County Council spokesman Chris Johnson said: “There is investigation which is police led and it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage.”

Police spokesman Marianne Shaw said: “An investigation in ongoing.”