Latest news with #MikeGibbard
Sky News
02-04-2025
- Sky News
'Sensitive military documents' found in Newcastle street
"Appropriate action" will be taken following the discovery of sensitive military documents on a street in Newcastle, Downing Street has said. An investigation has been launched by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) after the paperwork was found spilling out of a black bin bag in the Scotswood area of the city on 16 March. The BBC reported that the documents included details of soldiers' ranks, shift patterns, email addresses, weapon issue records and access information for military facilities. The broadcaster reported the paperwork related to units based at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, around 50 miles south of Newcastle. In a statement, the MoD said it did not believe there had been a significant security breach. A spokesperson said: "We take the protection of our information very seriously and this incident is being closely investigated. "We have rapidly reviewed the information and understand no sensitive operational defence information is contained within the documents." Among the paperwork was a sheet reportedly headed "armoury keys and hold IDS codes" – believed to refer to an armoury and intruder detection system. A Number 10 spokesperson said: "The Ministry of Defence is currently looking at documents handed to the police, but the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Army. "As you will appreciate, I won't be able to comment on any specifics while that takes place, but you can expect that appropriate action will be taken in response to any potential information breach. "It's obviously important that that investigation is allowed to take its course." The discovery was made by Mike Gibbard, a football fan from Gateshead, who stumbled across the documents while parking ahead of Newcastle United's Carabao Cup final match against Liverpool. He told the BBC: "I peered down and started to see names on bits of papers, and numbers, and I thought 'what's that?' "They were piled up against a wall, in a black bag, in the road, underneath cars – spread all the way up the road." He said he found more documents on the other side of the road and was alarmed by the contents. "Details of the perimeter, the patrol, checking weapons in and out, requests for leave, mobile phone numbers, high-ranking officers," he told the BBC. "This shouldn't be here, anyone could pick it up." The documents were handed to Northumbria Police. A spokesperson for the force said they were subsequently given to the MoD. Government guidelines recommend that some "official - sensitive" documents could pose a "threat to life" if compromised. The advice states that such paperwork should be destroyed using shredders or "burn bags".
Sky News
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
'Appropriate action' will be taken following discovery of dumped military documents
"Appropriate action" will be taken following the discovery of sensitive military documents on a street in Newcastle, Downing Street has said. An investigation has been launched by the Ministry of Defence after the cache of documents was found spilling out of a black bin bag in the Scotswood area of the city on 16 March. The BBC reported that they include details about soldiers' ranks, shift patterns, email addresses, weapon issue records and access information for military facilities. The broadcaster said the documents relate to units based at Catterick Garrison. Among them was a sheet reportedly headed "armoury keys and hold IDS codes" - believed to reference an armoury and intruder detection system. A Number 10 spokesman said: "The Ministry of Defence is currently looking at documents handed to the police, but the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Army. "As you will appreciate, I won't be able to comment on any specifics while that takes place, but you can expect that appropriate action will be taken in response to any potential information breach. "It's obviously important that that investigation is allowed to take its course." The discovery was made by Mike Gibbard, a football fan from Gateshead, who stumbled across the documents while parking ahead of Newcastle United's Carabao Cup final against Liverpool. He told the BBC: "I peered down and started to see names on bits of papers, and numbers, and I thought 'what's that?'" "They were piled up against a wall, in a black bag, in the road, underneath cars - spread all the way up the road." He said he found more documents on the other side of the road and was alarmed by the contents. "Details of the perimeter, the patrol, checking weapons in and out, requests for leave, mobile phone numbers, high-ranking officers," he told the BBC. "This shouldn't be here, anyone could pick it up." The documents were handed to Northumbria Police and a spokesperson said they were subsequently given to the MoD. A MoD spokesperson said: "We are aware that documentation allegedly relating to the department was recently handed to the police. "We are looking into this urgently and the matter is the subject of an ongoing internal investigation." Government guidelines recommend that some "official - sensitive" documents could pose a "threat to life" if compromised.
The Independent
28-03-2025
- The Independent
Army papers with sensitive information found strewn across Newcastle street
Documents appearing to hold sensitive information from the British armed forces have been found scattered across a city street in Newcastle. The Ministry of Defence is investigating after a passerby picked up piles of papers containing information including army soldier ranks, emails, shift patterns and weapon-issue details. The papers were found by Gateshead man Mike Gibbard, who spotted them spilling out of a black binbag and scattered across a pavement in the Scotswood area of Newcastle on 16 March. He told the BBC it was 'crazy' to have found the documents as he passed by on his way to watch Newcastle United's cup final game against Liverpool. "I peered down and started to see names on bits of papers, and numbers, and I thought 'what's that?'," he told the broadcaster. 'They were piled up against a wall, in a black bag, in the road, underneath cars – spread all the way up the road.' He said he found more documents on the other side of the road and was alarmed by the contents. Mr Gibbard said he asked his wife: "Why is it here? This shouldn't be here, anyone could pick it up." He said the documents appeared to be connected to regiments at Catterick garrison, in North Yorkshire. Mr Gibbard told the BBC he saw 'details of the perimeter, the patrol, checking weapons in and out, requests for leave, mobile phone numbers, high ranking officers'. Some of the information was marked with 'official-sensitive', which is information 'that is not intended for public release'. Government guidance states that the unintended disclosure of official-sensitive information 'can lead to moderate damage (including to the UK's longer-term strategic/economic position) and, in exceptional circumstances, it could lead to a threat to life'. An MOD spokesperson said: 'We take the protection of our information very seriously and this incident is being closely investigated. 'We have rapidly reviewed the information and understand no sensitive operational defence information is contained within the documents.' Mr Gibbard handed the documents over the Northumbria Police, who have since handed them over to the Ministry of Defence. A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: 'Shortly before 3pm on Sunday, March 16, we received a report that potentially confidential documents had been found on Railway Street in the Scotswood area of Newcastle. 'The documents have now been handed to the Ministry of Defence.' Government guidelines recommend that sensitive documents be destroyed using shredders or 'burn bags'. A Number 10 spokesman added: 'The Ministry of Defence is currently looking at documents handed to the police, but the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the army. 'As you will appreciate, I won't be able to comment on any specifics while that takes place, but you can expect that appropriate action will be taken in response to any potential information breach. 'It's obviously important that that investigation is allowed to take its course.'
The Independent
28-03-2025
- The Independent
Confidential military documents found dumped on residential street
The Ministry of Defence is investigating after a cache of documents containing sensitive military information was found discarded in the street. The papers, some marked 'official – sensitive', were discovered spilling out of a black bin bag in the Scotswood area of Newcastle on March 16. The BBC reported that they include details about soldiers' ranks, shift patterns, email addresses, weapon issue records and access information for military facilities. The documents appear to relate to units based at Catterick Garrison, the broadcaster said. Among them was a sheet reportedly headed 'armoury keys and hold IDS codes' – believed to reference an armoury and intruder detection system. The find was made by Mike Gibbard, a football fan from Gateshead, who stumbled across the documents while parking ahead of Newcastle United's Carabao Cup final clash with Liverpool. He told the BBC he was shocked by what he saw. 'I peered down and started to see names on bits of papers, and numbers, and I thought 'what's that?'' he said. 'They were piled up against a wall, in a black bag, in the road, underneath cars – spread all the way up the road.' He said he found more documents on the other side of the road and was alarmed by the contents. 'Details of the perimeter, the patrol, checking weapons in and out, requests for leave, mobile phone numbers, high-ranking officers,' he told the BBC. 'This shouldn't be here, anyone could pick it up.' Government guidance states that some 'official – sensitive' documents could pose a 'threat to life' if compromised. The documents were handed in to Northumbria Police and a spokesperson said they were subsequently given to the MoD. In a statement, a MoD spokesperson said: 'We are aware that documentation allegedly relating to the department was recently handed in to the police. 'We are looking into this urgently and the matter is the subject of an ongoing internal investigation.' Government guidelines recommend that sensitive documents be destroyed using shredders or 'burn bags'.
The Guardian
28-03-2025
- The Guardian
Papers strewn on Newcastle street feared to be sensitive army documents
The Ministry of Defence has said it is investigating after piles of papers with potentially confidential UK military information were found scattered along a street in Newcastle. The documents reportedly included army soldier ranks, emails, shift patterns and weapon-issue details. Other papers contained information that appeared to relate to an armoury and an intruder-detection system. All of the documents appear to be connected to regiments at Catterick garrison, in North Yorkshire. According to the BBC, the papers were found spilling out of a black binbag in the Scotswood area of Newcastle on 16 March. Photographs show the papers strewn along a pavement and against parked cars. They were spotted by Mike Gibbard, from Gateshead, who was parking his car as he headed to a fanzone to watch Newcastle United's victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final. He told the BBC he was shocked by what he saw, describing it as 'crazy'. Gibbard said: 'I peered down and started to see names on bits of papers, and numbers, and I thought, 'What's that?' 'They were piled up against a wall, in a black bag, in the road, underneath cars – spread all the way up the road.' He said he found more documents on the other side of the road and was alarmed by the contents. 'Details of the perimeter, the patrol, checking weapons in and out, requests for leave, mobile phone numbers, high-ranking officers.' He said to his wife: 'This shouldn't be here. Anyone could pick it up.' One document was headed 'armoury keys and hold IDS codes', thought to stand for intruder-detection system. Others contained general medical information and ingredients order sheets. Another document was footnoted with the words 'official – sensitive'. According to government guidance, the unintended disclosure of such documents 'can lead to moderate damage (including to the UK's longer-term strategic/economic position) and, in exceptional circumstances, it could lead to a threat to life'. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The documents were handed in to Northumbria police. A spokesperson for the force said: 'Shortly before 3pm on Sunday, 16 March, we received a report that potentially confidential documents had been found on Railway Street, in the Scotswood area of Newcastle. 'The documents have now been handed to the Ministry of Defence.' In a statement, an MoD spokesperson said: 'We are aware that documentation allegedly relating to the department was recently handed to the police. 'We are looking into this urgently and the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by Northumbria police.' Government guidelines recommend that sensitive documents be destroyed using shredders or 'burn bags'.
