A
laptop containing the personal details of almost 400 former
directors of insolvent companies has been stolen in a burglary from
the Insolvency Service in Manchester.
The Insolvency Service has written to those it believes could be
affected by the loss. They face the potential of being victims of
fraud and identity theft.
It is the latest, if relatively small,
data loss to have affected a government department.
In addition to the details of former directors, there were also
the personal details of around 150 people associated with the
insolvent firms, including insolvency practitioners, creditors and
former employees.
One of four laptops stolen from the government agency's building
contained information on the directors from 122 firms. It is not
known what security protection the laptops used, if any.
Information on the company directors included names, addresses,
dates of birth and occupations. No bank account details were
held.
For the others affected the laptop contained their names,
addresses, and, in a small number of cases, their bank account
details.
Greater Manchester Police are investigating the 28 August
burglary.