Security breach as 3,000 passports stolen from van

Jenjie · 29-07-2008, 11:05 AM

The Foreign Office admitted a serious breach of security today after 3,000 blank passports destined for British embassies worldwide were stolen from a van.

The 24 parcels, containing blank passports and vignettes - the blank stickers for visa stamps - were taken from the vehicle, which was en-route from a factory in Oldham to RAF Northolt near London.

The passports - taken when the van was hijacked near the site of the factory in Chadderton - were said to be the new electronic type which contain a chip replicating the data printed on the document itself.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said that the "security features" made them unusable, but added that the Home Office had in any case taken "preventative action" to guard against forgeries.

She confirmed that the documents had been produced at Oldham-based printing firm 3M Security Printing and Systems. "The van was hijacked en route from the production site," she said.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Shortly before 6.40am on Monday, police were called to Gorse Street, Chadderton, following reports of a robbery. Officers attended and found boxes containing blank passports had been stolen. Inquiries are ongoing."

An Identity and Passport Service spokesman reiterated that "hi-tech security features" left the passports unusable. "The police are doing everything in their power to catch the perpetrators," he added.

Such sensitive documents are usually transported in armoured, secure vehicles, he added. It was not stated whether the vehicle transporting these passports conformed to this specification.

The incident is the latest where government departments or agencies either lost personal data or had it stolen.

Last month, an Independent Police Complaints Commission report condemned the "woefully inadequate system" being used by staff which brought about the loss of 25 million child benefit records, complete with sensitive personal information, late last year.

In addition, nine NHS trusts last December admitted they had lost confidential patients’ information while - in the same month - it was disclosed that the personal details of three million UK learner drivers had been lost by the agency in charge of storing them in the American state of Iowa.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4420850.ece

mc_squared · 29-07-2008, 11:14 AM

This could be a passport to disaster!!

29-07-2008, 11:05 AM	#1
Jenjie PA to SammyBeeBurns Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 5,805 My Mood: Location: at Coldplaying.com Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 35 Thanked 90 Times in 41 Posts	Security breach as 3,000 passports stolen from van The Foreign Office admitted a serious breach of security today after 3,000 blank passports destined for British embassies worldwide were stolen from a van. The 24 parcels, containing blank passports and vignettes - the blank stickers for visa stamps - were taken from the vehicle, which was en-route from a factory in Oldham to RAF Northolt near London. The passports - taken when the van was hijacked near the site of the factory in Chadderton - were said to be the new electronic type which contain a chip replicating the data printed on the document itself. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said that the "security features" made them unusable, but added that the Home Office had in any case taken "preventative action" to guard against forgeries. She confirmed that the documents had been produced at Oldham-based printing firm 3M Security Printing and Systems. "The van was hijacked en route from the production site," she said. A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Shortly before 6.40am on Monday, police were called to Gorse Street, Chadderton, following reports of a robbery. Officers attended and found boxes containing blank passports had been stolen. Inquiries are ongoing." An Identity and Passport Service spokesman reiterated that "hi-tech security features" left the passports unusable. "The police are doing everything in their power to catch the perpetrators," he added. Such sensitive documents are usually transported in armoured, secure vehicles, he added. It was not stated whether the vehicle transporting these passports conformed to this specification. The incident is the latest where government departments or agencies either lost personal data or had it stolen. Last month, an Independent Police Complaints Commission report condemned the "woefully inadequate system" being used by staff which brought about the loss of 25 million child benefit records, complete with sensitive personal information, late last year. In addition, nine NHS trusts last December admitted they had lost confidential patients’ information while - in the same month - it was disclosed that the personal details of three million UK learner drivers had been lost by the agency in charge of storing them in the American state of Iowa. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4420850.ece __________________ "The fat lady has sung and the world's Vida has been well and truly Viva-ed." - R#42 14th March 2010 I've got my "I Heart Coldplaying.com, It's My Life" knickers in a twist!!! 2012: 9&10 June - Manchester Etihad; 2011: 4 Dec - MEN Arena 2010: 25 Nov - Boat Trip 2009: 30 Jan - Absolute Radio; 18 Feb - War Child; 19 Sep - Wembley 2008: 11&12 Dec - MEN Arena 2005: 4&5 July - Reebok Stadium; 19 Dec - MEN Arena 2003: 14 Apr - MEN Arena 2002: 20 June - Mountford Hall; 11 Oct - MEN Arena

29-07-2008, 11:14 AM	#2
mc_squared Banned Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 67,519 My Mood: Location: Wherever life takes me Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	This could be a passport to disaster!! __________________ LIFE ISN'T MEANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY Be yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks. Work to live - don't live to work...................... Age is purely a state of mind! Don't waste your time on jealousy. Success is a journey, NOT a destination. Life is a marathon, NOT a sprint! http://www.generationterrorists.com/...sunscreen.html