Review into security breach at Heathrow

HEATHROW AIRPORT has been forced to review security plans after a computer memory stick containing sensitive information including the Queen’s protection plans was found in a London street.

The unencrypted drive contained more than 170 files, some marked confidential or restricted, including maps and security details for Britain’s busiest airport.

The information found lying in leaves in a north-west London street included details of security measures used to protect the Queen, how to access restricted areas and the positions of CCTV cameras. The memory stick is believed to have been lost by an employee, with Scotland Yard saying it was not investigating any criminal offence.

Heathrow Airport last night admitted it had been forced to review security plans in the wake of the find and had begun a review into how the sensitive information could have been lost. A statement said: “Heathrow’s top priority is the safety and security of our passengers and colleagues.

“The UK and Heathrow have some of the most robust aviation security measures in the world and we remain vigilant to evolving threats by updating our procedures on a daily basis.

“We have reviewed all of our security plans and are confident that Heathrow remains secure. We have also launched an internal investigation to understand how this happened and are taking steps to prevent a similar occurrence in future.”

A Sunday newspaper was contacted by an unemployed man who said he had found the stick while on his way to the library to search the internet for work.

The unnamed man told the Sunday Mirror: “I was curious about what it contained so a few days later, when I went back to the library, I plugged it into the computer. All these files were there. I couldn’t believe it.”