Ministry of Justice Faces Fury Over Daily Loss of Sensitive Electronic Devices
The Ministry of Justice has been condemned after parliamentary statistics revealed staff lost nearly two electronic devices containing highly sensitive information every day over a ten-month period. The department, already embroiled in multiple scandals, reported 665 devices stolen or lost between July 5, 2024, and April 29, 2025.
'Gold Dust to Organised Criminals': Security Experts Sound Alarm
Retired Metropolitan Police detective Peter Bleksley branded the figures 'scandalous', warning that the information contained on these devices represents 'gold dust to organised criminals'. The lost items included 179 laptops, 475 mobile phones, and 11 other electronic devices, potentially containing prisoner details, victim locations, and ongoing investigation data.
'That sort of information is gold dust to organised criminals, including those with immense cyber capabilities,' Bleksley stated. 'It could tell them where their rivals are, what they are up to, and potentially vital information about ongoing cases. Each week seems to bring a new MoJ crisis. People need confidence that this sort of information is secure.'
Political Pressure Mounts as Shadow Minister Demands Answers
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy MP called for immediate action, stating: 'David Lammy needs to get a grip of his department, and answer serious questions about how this happened, what data has been compromised, and what will be done to ensure this doesn't continue to happen.'
The figures emerged following a parliamentary question from Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who received answers last week. Obese-Jecty described the statistics as 'shockingly high' and called for an internal investigation into the department's culture.
'For the Ministry of Justice to have lost hundreds of encrypted phones and laptops in such a short space of time is an incredible lapse of security,' he said. 'We've seen multiple prisoners released in error. An investigation should be undertaken as to why Ministry of Justice staff continue to make such serious errors.'
Device Losses Compound Existing Prison Service Scandals
The security breach comes as the MoJ faces mounting criticism over a series of high-profile failures. Last month, it was revealed that Hatton Garden mastermind Michael Seed was accidentally released and spent six months at large before the error was discovered. The 66-year-old electronics expert, nicknamed 'Basil', was freed in August last year despite having additional time to serve from a 2022 sentence.
Separately, Ethiopian sex attacker Hadush Kebatu was accidentally released last October, sparking a two-day manhunt before he was recaptured. The department has also faced scandals involving prison officers prosecuted for having sexual relationships with inmates.
Government Response and Security Measures
Justice Minister Jake Richards responded to the device losses, stating: 'All Ministry of Justice laptops and mobile phones are encrypted and protected to National Cyber Security Centre standards. The Department has mandatory reporting procedures for lost or stolen items, and incidents are investigated in line with security policy.'
However, critics argue that encryption alone cannot mitigate the risks posed by such widespread device losses, particularly when sensitive operational information could be compromised. The frequency of losses - averaging almost two devices daily - has raised serious questions about security protocols and staff training within the department.
The revelations have intensified scrutiny on Justice Secretary David Lammy, who took over the department last September. With the MoJ already struggling with accidental prisoner releases and staff misconduct cases, the device security breach represents another significant challenge for the embattled department.
