Another council laptop stolen

Reporter: JANICE BARKER
Date online: 03 March 2010

Names, addresses and pay of staff in missing documents

An Oldham Council laptop and documents containing names, addresses and salaries of staff has been stolen from an authority building.

The weekend theft has been reported to the police and to the Information Commissioner, the body which protects public information and personal data held on computers, and has sparked another internal review on security.

It is not clear whether the computer contained sensitive information, but all data on it was encrypted.

Emma Alexander, executive director of performance, capacity and services is warning staff never to divulge information, particularly over the phone, relating to any other member of staff.

In a statement to all staff she said: “The risk of this kind of information being misused is minimal. The documents included some employee information, which was limited to names, job titles and salaries of a number of employees.

“This is a timely reminder of the need to secure information. Laptops should be secured with a lock, or placed in a locked cupboard or drawer if left for any length of time.

“Desks should be cleared of any documents containing personal data every evening with all paperwork securely locked away.”

The latest theft was not at the Civic Centre, but comes a year after 17 council laptops were wheeled out of the West Street centre in a recycling bin under the noses of security staff.

And in 2007 a number of burglaries including thefts of other laptops stored in cupboards led to a warning from Barbara Cotton, the council’s risk and insurance manager, that security had to be improved, door keys replaced urgently, empty offices locked, and late working arrangements clarified.

The thefts led to an overhaul of council security arrangements, new passes, and restrictions on access to sensitive areas.

Councillor Lynne Thompson, cabinet member for finance and resources, said: “Oldham Council can confirm that over last weekend a laptop and a laptop bag containing some documents were stolen from one of the council’s buildings.

“No information about any member of the public was involved, but the documents did include some employee information.

“Oldham Council takes the security of its information extremely seriously and has issued a reminder to all staff about our security policies. The police have been notified.”