Civil servants lose 3,000 phones and laptops in less than a year

Telegraph

01-05-2025

Thousands of government phones and laptops have been lost or stolen under Labour's watch, The Telegraph can reveal.
In just 10 months, more than 3,000 devices have been mislaid or lost to theft, equivalent to 10 per day, raising concerns over sensitive information 'falling into the wrong hands'.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) was responsible for most of the losses, misplacing nearly 1,000 items, followed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Home Office.
The MoD also had 15 USB sticks and 12 computers lost or stolen, while the Department for Transport mislaid four body-worn cameras, The Telegraph's analysis shows.
The latest data suggest the problem is getting worse under Labour, with losses at a higher rate than those recorded in the year to November 2023.
It prompted warnings over possible security breaches as well as a waste of taxpayer money.
The Tories said the figures were 'deeply concerning', while the Lib Dems urged ministers to 'get a grip' on the issue.
A total of 3,166 devices
The Telegraph's findings, based on parliamentary questions submitted by the Tories, show that a total of 3,166 devices have been lost or stolen since Labour took power in July 2024.
That includes 1,687 phones, 1,099 laptops and 380 other items such as iPads, USB sticks and cameras, with a third mislaid by the MoJ alone.
There were 501 devices lost or stolen from the MoD, including 379 phones, 95 laptops, 12 computers and 15 USBs, while the Home Office misplaced 481 items.
The total number could be even higher, with four government departments still not providing figures one week after the deadline for a response.
It equates to roughly 10 losses per day or 315 per month, which suggests an increase in the rate under Labour.
The Telegraph has been unable to find comparable figures for the previous nine months under the Tories.
However, a similar analysis published in November 2023, when the Conservatives were in power, found just over 2,000 devices had been misplaced in 12 months, equivalent to roughly six per day or 170 per month.
Charlie Dewhirst, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, said: 'It's deeply concerning that under Labour's watch, thousands of government-issued electronic devices have gone missing – including the Home Office, a department ironically charge of security – and are all having to be replaced on the taxpayer's dime
'The public deserves assurances from Labour that their money is being managed appropriately, not squandered on civil service negligence.'
Sarah Olney, the Lib Dems' Cabinet Office spokeswoman, said: 'These phones and laptops cost the taxpayer money and may hold sensitive security information and private details that we wouldn't want falling into the wrong hands.
'It's worrying writing on the wall for the Government's resource security higher up the procurement chain, too.
'The Government must urgently get a grip on this rise in phone losses.'
Some departments provided data only for 'lost' items, as requested by the Tories, while others specified that they had included stolen devices. In some cases, the figures included items that have since been recovered.
Devices 'might be found later'
In its response, the MoD said: 'It is important to note that not all of the above incidents have resulted in actual losses or thefts. On some occasions where devices could not be accounted for, they would be reported but may have subsequently been found.
'January and February figures are high due to two incidents submitted by one part of Defence regarding the mustering of assets. Although it appears likely that the cause is poor accounting, the phones are still recorded as losses as this has not been confirmed.
'The discrepancy came to light following the strengthening of accounting processes within that organisation. This new audit process will ensure record keeping and utilisation are carefully managed in future, minimising associated costs and wastage.'
A government spokesman said: 'We take the security of government devices extremely seriously, which is why items such as laptops and mobile phones are always encrypted so any loss does not compromise security.
'As is the case in all organisations, a very small proportion of such devices can be reported lost or stolen every year, with all instances investigated.'