Data loss scandal hits UK government – again

The British government is in the firing line after yet another data security breach.

This time, the personal details of all 84,000 prisoners in England and Wales have gone missing.

A private contractor working for the government lost a computer memory stick.

The data includes names and addresses of inmates and, in some cases, release dates. It is thought prisoners could now try to claim compensation.

This is the latest embarrassing blunder for the government. Now notorious cases include the loss of secret intelligence files, information about millions of child benefit claimants and details about learner drivers.

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