Oops! MoD lost THREE laptops, not just one, admits minister

A top-level investigation into the theft of a Ministry of Defence computer from a car in Birmingham this month found another two had been stolen since 2005.

Astonishingly, ministers were kept in the dark about the first two thefts - even though the laptops stored highly-sensitive information that could risk the lives of servicemen and women or their families.

Data files contained names, addresses, passport details, National Insurance numbers, drivers' licence details, family details, doctors' addresses, NHS numbers and some bank details of those who joined, or inquired about, the Armed Forces.

The Conservatives said the thefts exposed a "damning picture of incompetence" at the MoD at a time when British troops could be targeted by terrorists.

The blunders have led to a ban on Whitehall staff taking laptops out of their offices.

Mr Browne was forced to face MPs in the Commons to explain the security lapses.

He said the latest laptop was stolen from a Royal Navy recruitment officer after he left it in the boot of a car in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on the night of January 9 - a breach of MoD rules. He faces "appropriate action" - possibly a court-martial.

Mr Browne said there was no reason to believe the laptop was targeted for its data but the MoD "could not wholly discount this".

Extensive information of about 153,000 individuals who had applied to join the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and RAF was held on the computer, as well as the banking details of around 3,700. Letters are being sent to all involved.

Mr Browne admitted it was not clear why the officer was carrying detailed information about such a large number of people on a laptop.

He said the intelligence services had revealed there was no indication the unencrypted files had fallen into the hands of extremists, but this could not be ruled out.

He also revealed "two further laptops, potentially containing similar data" had been stolen since 2005 - neither encrypted.

A Navy laptop stolen from a car in Manchester in October 2006 contained details of more than half-a-million individuals.

An Army laptop was stolen from a careers office in Edinburgh in December 2005 - holding information on 500 potential recruits.

"I take this theft of personal data extremely seriously," said Mr Browne. "I am also keenly aware of the risks should the data have fallen into the wrong hands. Those who have dealings with the Armed Forces have a right to expect their data will be properly protected."

He promised to tackle "weaknesses and shortcomings" in MoD security, ordering an external review by Sir Edmund Burton, chairman of the Information Advisory Council.

Tory defence spokesman Liam Fox said the incidents showed "incompetence, mismanagement and poor procedures", adding: "To put out troops and the public at risk in this way is unforgivable."

He said it was worse than the Child Benefit scandal - when the records of 25million recipients went missing at HM Revenue and Customs last October - because the laptops were in the hands of criminals.

He added: "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."

Last night it was revealed that Whitehall staff have been banned from removing laptops containing sensitive data from their offices.

Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell said in an email to permanent secretaries at Government departments: "From now on, no unencrypted laptops or drives containing personal data should be taken outside secured office premises."