Courier told to explain lost data (UK)

The papers were found on Thursday by a motorist on a roundabout near Exeter.

Karl-Heinz Korzenientz picked up hundreds of documents with passport photocopies and benefit claims details.

Secretary of State Peter Hain has ordered an immediate inquiry. TNT said it “deeply regretted” the temporary loss of the documents.

The papers included incapacity benefit files, others relating to pensions and Jobseeker’s Allowance, bank statements, passport documents and copies of passports.

There were also documents relating to home loans and mortgage interest, and details of national insurance numbers, addresses and dates of birth.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) said: “We have now recovered a number of documents following their loss from a TNT vehicle and we believe they constitute all the material that was lost.

“We have no reason to believe that any individuals’ details have been misused. We take the security of individuals’ data extremely seriously.

“As part of our own inquiry, we have asked TNT for a full and urgent report on all of the circumstances relating to the loss of this data.”

The Information Commissioner has also been informed.

The courier firm said: “TNT takes the loss of any consignment extremely seriously.

“We are currently working closely with partners in the DWP and a full and thorough inquiry into this incident is currently being undertaken.”

The papers were found on Thursday by a motorist on a roundabout near Exeter.

Karl-Heinz Korzenientz picked up hundreds of documents with passport photocopies and benefit claims details.

Secretary of State Peter Hain has ordered an immediate inquiry. TNT said it “deeply regretted” the temporary loss of the documents.

The papers included incapacity benefit files, others relating to pensions and Jobseeker’s Allowance, bank statements, passport documents and copies of passports.

There were also documents relating to home loans and mortgage interest, and details of national insurance numbers, addresses and dates of birth.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) said: “We have now recovered a number of documents following their loss from a TNT vehicle and we believe they constitute all the material that was lost.

“We have no reason to believe that any individuals’ details have been misused. We take the security of individuals’ data extremely seriously.

“As part of our own inquiry, we have asked TNT for a full and urgent report on all of the circumstances relating to the loss of this data.”

‘Thorough inquiry’

The Information Commissioner has also been informed.

The courier firm said: “TNT takes the loss of any consignment extremely seriously.

“We are currently working closely with partners in the DWP and a full and thorough inquiry into this incident is currently being undertaken.”

A major investigation is also underway into the theft in Birmingham of a laptop belonging to a Royal Navy officer which contained the details of 600,000 people.

In October two discs containing the entire child benefit database were lost in transit after they were sent by HM Revenue and Customs to the National Audit Office without being registered or encrypted.