Now computer drive is 'lost' with personal details of 5,000 prison officers

Computer details about 5,000 prison officers have gone missing in the latest data security disaster to hit the Government - potentially costing the taxpayer millions.

An inquiry has been ordered by Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who was not informed until today even though the loss of the data was reported to the Prison Service in July.

The hard drive contains information including names, dates of birth, National Insurance numbers and Prison Service employee numbers, according to a letter from private computing firm EDS.

It was last seen as long ago as July 2007.

The Prison Officers' Association said the loss, which it had not been informed about, could end up costing the taxpayer millions of pounds.

National chairman Colin Moses said: 'We are extremely concerned that not only has this data been lost, but that the Prison Service appear to have tried to conceal this serious breach in security.

'It is a breach that we believe could ultimately cost the taxpayer millions and millions of pounds, because, if the information lost is personal and sensitive, it may well mean staff having to move prisons, move homes and relocate their families.

'This obviously will have a significant cost to the taxpayer.

'We believe that the people who have tried to conceal this serious breach should be brought to account and we are calling on Jack Straw to fully investigate this matter and ensure that justice is seen to be done.'

In a statement, Mr Straw said: 'I am extremely concerned about this missing data.

'I was informed of its loss at lunchtime today (Saturday) and have ordered an urgent inquiry into the circumstances and the implications of the data loss and the level of risk involved.'

He added: 'I have also asked for a report as to why I was not informed as soon as my department became aware of this issue.'

Ministry of Justice officials are contacting EDS as part of the inquiry, he said.

Mr Straw added: We take these matters extremely seriously.'

The disappearance of the hard drive, revealed in the News of the World, is the latest in a string of data losses to embarrass the Government.

Two computer discs vanished last October containing personal details of 25 million child benefit claimants.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert immediately attacked Labour's record on data security.

'The records of prisoners have been lost already and now we discover that personal data about prison officers has gone too,' he said.

'When was this incompetent Government planning to own up to another data disaster - this time one which has put the security of thousands of its own employees at risk - and if, as they claim, they didn't know about this until now, who on earth is actually running the Department?'