Pupil records among data files lost by councils, probe reveals

Published on Monday 1 June 2009 22:06

PICTURES of children and confidential crime reports are among a catalogue of data files lost by councils and health boards, it has been revealed.

The dossier of stolen or lost information includes details of pupils held by Glasgow City Council's psychological services department.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde reported that seven laptops, one with details of 5,800 patients, had been stolen.

Aberdeenshire Council lost photos of school children contained on a computer USB memory stick.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats' 18-month investigation revealed that 15 of Scotland's 32 councils and 11 health boards reported lost or stolen data files.

Lib Dem finance spokesman Jeremy Purvis said: "Parents, patients and the public need to be reassured that the data held by the public sector in Scotland is held to the highest possible standards.

"Our investigation shows that at present, this is clearly not the case. New procedures must be put in place before more vulnerable people are put at risk."

The investigation revealed that a laptop was stolen from Glasgow City Council containing confidential information and crime intelligence reports from the Illegal Money Lending Unit.

Nine laptops and five computers were stolen from the City of Edinburgh Council.

Renfrewshire Council lost a USB memory stick containing details of a child protection pre-investigation.

West Lothian Council said 26 computers had gone missing in 2007-8. Of the total, ten laptops and three PCs disappeared from one primary school.

Among health boards, NHS Ayrshire and Arran lost 40 clinical reports of 21 patients. NHS Lothian said a memory stick with details of 143 patients went missing.