Industry news

 

    Customs pull up staff over security incidents

    Thu 01-May-2008

    More than 600 HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) workers have been disciplined for breaches of data-protection laws since 2005, it has been reported.

    Jane Kennedy, financial secretary to the Treasury, revealed the number in a written answer to a parliamentary question by Conservative MP James Brokenshire, according to ZDNet.

    She added that 11 of these data-security incidents were serious enough to be reported to the data-protection watchdog.

    HMRC was criticised last year when chancellor Alistair Darling reported that the personal details of 25 million people claiming child benefits had been lost in the post.

    Meanwhile, it was reported last month that the government department had suspended its board following a review into the data loss.

    Computer Weekly revealed the decision was taken after an external review highlighted leadership failings, adding that the main board would be replaced by an interim team of private sector advisors to help oversee the department's 85,000 staff.
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