Laptop theft compromises children's data

Middlesbrough Council has confirmed it was the victim of two break-ins where laptops have been stolen, potentially compromising sensitive citizen data.

Nine laptops were stolen when the Middlesbrough teaching and learning centre was recently broken into. They contained sensitive case management files information on up to 63 children and their families going back up to 18 months.

Middlesbrough Council spokeswoman, France Griss told IT PRO the laptops were taken from a locked building, room and drawer, but that they contained no financial information.

Another laptop, stolen before Christmas, contained a limited number of names and addresses of council service users. But the council said all the laptops were protected with passwords and some encryption.

Griss added: "Information is backed up on central storage facilities but we are assessing whether there are any issues with data being lost which cannot be replicated."

And tighter physical and information security measures are being put in place in the wake of these thefts, even though she added that entry to the building was gained several floors up and the criminals risked injury in gaining access.

Gill Rollings, the authority's director of Children, Families and Learning said it was unlikely that anyone's privacy has been put at risk by the thefts.

"Indications are that the thieves were seeking the equipment rather than any information," said Rollings adding: "As a precaution we will be contacting people identified on the computers, where appropriate, in accordance with Police advice".

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