John Hyde reports:
Computer equipment storing more than 400,000 confidential court files was stolen from a court – and the theft only discovered months later when it appeared for sale on eBay, the Gazette can exclusively reveal.
The network server, which contained personal details of victims and witnesses, was apparently stolen by a subcontractor in January 2012 during the decommissioning of Salford Magistrates’ Court. The server was subsequently returned but police have been unable to trace the thief.
The Ministry of Justice revealed basic details of the theft on page 31 of its annual report released in June.
Read more on Law Society Gazette. The MoJ seemingly decided no notification to individuals was necessary:
Grant said the MoJ had conducted a ‘detailed forensic analysis’ of the recovered server that suggested it was unlikely that information had been taken.
‘The audit did not identify any access to the files during the time the server was not under the control of MoJ and therefore no action has been taken to inform those affected,’ she added.