MoD official left laptop with Afghan data open on train

Details of 49 breaches at ministry also include personal data sent to a civil service sports club with 140,000 members

- By HOLLY BANCROFT HOME AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT

A Ministry of Defence official revealed confidential information by leaving a laptop open on a train in another Afghan data breach, The Independent can reveal, as new documents uncover a string of government blunders which have put private data in the wrong hands.

An officially sensitive personal email relating to Afghans seeking safety in Britain was also accidentally sent to the Civil Service Sports & Social Club - a group for all civil service and public sector employees that has 140,000 members - in August 2023, records show.

The new details come after a catastrophic MoD data breach that potentially put thousands of Afghans who helped UK forces at risk from the Taliban. The major breach, which was discovered in August 2023 and led to thousands of Afghans being secretly relocated to the UK, only came to light earlier this year when The Independent and other media organisations fought to lift an unprecedented gagging order which had been put in place to cover it up.

The incidents are among 49 data breaches over the past four years from within the unit handling applications from Afghans wanting to flee the Taliban and come to the UK - with emails sent to the wrong people, insecure systems used and information accessed by the wrong employees.

In May 2024, a decision letter about a personal data incident was sent to the wrong person, while in June 2023, a so-called warm welcome letter, usually sent to Afghan families when they reach safety in the UK, was sent to the wrong email address.