Police in ID theft scare

By RASHID RAZAQ FOR MAILONLINE
Updated: 05:33 EST, 22 November 2006

Computers containing payroll details of thousands of Metropolitan Police officers have been stolen in a burglary.

Three laptops believed to hold the confidential financial information of 15,000 officers were taken in a break-in at offices used by the company responsible for processing the Met's pay and pension service.

A security review has been launched over fears that bank account and National Insurance data, thought to include Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and anti-terrorist detectives, could be used to steal money or create false identities.

The computers were stolen from the LogicaCMG administration offices in Peckham, south east London, last Thursday. Despite the presence of high-level security systems at the building on Southwark Street, the theft was not discovered until the following day.

Senior officers have demanded an investigation. The Met payroll service was outsourced to LogicaCMG in a £31m, seven-year deal in 2005. Richard Barnes, a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said: 'The security implications of this are terrifying. I am absolutely horrified that this company did not have better security.'

Scotland Yard said: 'We believe the risk of staff members falling victim to either fraudulent activity or identity theft is minimal.' A man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and was later bailed to return to a south London police station on a future date pending further inquiries.