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Press releasesREF: PR/025/08 DATE: 7th September 2008 To: MPs PRESS RELEASE BETRAYAL BY THE PRISON SERVICEFollowing the revelations by the News of the World newspaper that personal details of more than 5000 Prison Service staff has been lost, leaders of the POA are angry with the Prison Service who have not seen fit to inform them of this serious security breach. Some 14 months after the private company EDS lost the CD containing this information, they have still to confirm exactly what information was stored on it. Whilst officials do not believe the data is in the hands of criminals they cannot confirm its whereabouts. Therefore, thousands of prison staff, their families and homes are still at risk. Colin Moses, National Chairman of the POA said: “During the last 2 to 3 months senior members of the POA have met with the Minister, his advisor and leaders of the Prisons Board and no-one has seen fit to mention this security breach. “The POA have identified the failings of EDS to the Prison Service on a number of occasions, but private profit seems to take preference over public safety. “Even today some 14 hours after the revelations, I have had to contact the Prison Service for an update. This is simply unacceptable. We need to know who knew about this from the Prison Service and when they knew. “This is not the first time that POA members, Prison Service employees have had their personal data lost or stolen. In Northern Ireland our members and their families’ lives were at risk following the loss of personal data and this Union threatened to take strike action to protect those staff whose lives were at risk because the Prison Service and Government would not ensure their safety. If necessary we will do the same on this occasion”. Brian Caton, General Secretary of the POA said: “The safety and well-being of Prison Service staff is paramount. If anyone in authority has deliberately tried to cover up the loss of this personal data, I would hope they do the decent thing and resign, if not Jack Straw must take the appropriate action. “I would hope that Government terminate the contract with EDS immediately following their deliberate act of withholding information and placing at risk thousands of Prison Service staff. “I cannot believe that anyone would sit on such information for so long hoping that the disk would simply surface, but profit and money make people do the strangest things. “Whilst welcoming the investigation called for by Jack Straw, this may be too little to late and immediate action is necessary to prevent any reoccurrence and most importantly, to establish exactly what personal data has been lost. We can not afford to play with peoples’ safety and hope all is well”.
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