Watchdog investigating two other HMRC breaches
Commenting on the HMRC loss of two CDs containing details of 25 million people, Richard Thomas, Information Commissioner, said it was an extremely serious and disturbing security breach. It was not the first time that he had been made aware of breaches at the HM Revenue and Customs. He was already investigating two other breaches
Richard Thomas said: "Incidents like these illustrate that any system is only as good as its weakest link. The alarm bells must now ring in every organisation about the risks of not protecting people's personal information properly. As I highlighted earlier this year, it is imperative that organisations earn public trust and confidence by addressing security and other data protection safeguards with the utmost vigour.
"I am pleased that HMRC reported this breach to my Office and that the Chancellor has announced that Kieran Poynter of Price Waterhouse Coopers will carry out an independent review. The Chancellor has agreed that the full report will be made available to my Office and we will then decide what further action may be appropriate. Searching questions need to be answered about systems, procedures and human error inside both HMRC and NAO."
