Whitehall departments misplaced 50 laptops and telephones per week final yr, surprising figures reveal.
MPs have demanded an pressing inquiry right into a worrying enhance within the variety of digital gadgets which were mislaid or stolen from Authorities departments.
Greater than 8,000 laptops and telephones that would comprise delicate and categorized info have gone lacking previously 5 years, in keeping with official figures.
The Ministry of Defence topped the charts, with 931 recorded as misplaced or stolen in that point, with the Ministry of Justice simply behind on 723.
Whitehall departments misplaced 50 laptops and telephones per week final yr, surprising figures reveal
Since 2018, the Authorities has misplaced monitor of three,268 laptops given to employees for work.
The quantity going lacking annually has virtually doubled from 2021 to 2022, with a complete of 559 lacking on the finish of 2021, rising to 912 in 2022.
Since 2018, 5,217 cellphones given to Authorities staff have been both misplaced or stolen, together with 1,555 in 2022.
The Ministry of Justice had essentially the most lacking telephones with 961 previously 5 years, adopted by the Residence Workplace with 855 and the International Workplace with 696.
![Since 2018, the Government has lost track of 3,268 laptops given to staff for work. [File image]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/31/23/66086127-11589141-image-a-9_1672531117512.jpg)
Since 2018, the Authorities has misplaced monitor of three,268 laptops given to employees for work. [File image]
Final yr, an investigation was introduced after a senior MoD official left a pile of papers, together with secret recordsdata, at a bus cease in Kent.
The Liberal Democrats, who requested the figures, yesterday demanded an inquiry to ascertain how so many digital gadgets have gone lacking, and whether or not there have been any safety breaches as a direct outcome.
Lib Dem Treasury spokeswoman Sarah Olney mentioned: ‘The sheer variety of lacking telephones and laptops paint an alarming image of carelessness inside our Authorities.
‘It’s frankly terrifying to assume what sort of delicate info could possibly be held on these gadgets.
‘If one in all these misplaced or stolen telephones or laptops fell into the improper palms, it may pose a critical risk to our nationwide and private safety. Ministers must launch an official inquiry with none delay.’
A Authorities spokesman mentioned: ‘We take the safety of Authorities gadgets extraordinarily severely, which is why gadgets corresponding to laptops and cellphones are all the time encrypted, so any loss doesn’t compromise safety.’
