Police under fire in major security blunder

GREATER Manchester Police has been fined £120,000 following the theft of a memory stick with details of more than 1,000 people with links to serious crime investigations.


The unencrypted stick was taken from a detective’s house in Grotton.

A report by the Information Commissioner’s Officer has criticised the force for security breaches that “send a shiver down the spine”.

The drive held details of 1,075 people, including members of the public who tipped-off police about drugs investigations. Details of police operations, potential arrest targets and officers’ names were also believed to be on the still-missing device.

An officer was suspended after the stick - which was in his wallet - was taken by an opportunist thief at his home in July 2011.

At the time the Chronicle revealed how 20 police officers were seen desperately searching the detective’s garden for clues to the thief. Neighbours said the off-duty officer had left his door open in an attempt to remove a wasp from the house.

A civil penalty of £120,000 was paid by GMP.

Mr Smith added: “This was truly sensitive personal data, left in the hands of a burglar by poor data security. The consequences really do send a shiver down the spine. It should have been obvious to the force the type of information stored on its computers meant proper data security was needed.

“Instead, it has taken a serious data breach to prompt it into action.”

The detective was internally disciplined and it is understood all those whose names appeared on the device have been contacted.