Police on honours list given extra security
Fears raised that some may have to move home after addresses were published online in data blunder
POLICE officers recognised in the New Year honours list are to be given extra security after the Cabinet Office published their addresses, amid warnings that some of those affected by the blunder may have to move home.
There have been calls for an urgent inquiry into how more than 1,000 people, including counter-terror police, senior diplomats, military officials, politicians and celebrities, had their personal details released.
Police forces and the federation said last night that they were “ensuring appropriate action is taken” to provide security for former and current officers on the list.
The names included senior officers who had been involved in the investigation into the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, leading to fears that they could face retaliation from the Russian state.
The Cabinet Office has apologised and said it was contacting those affected after the personal details of the vast majority of the 1,097 New Year honours recipients could be viewed online on Friday night for more than an hour.
Among those on the list were celebrities such as Sir Elton John, who was made a Companion of Honour, and Olivia Newton-john, who received a damehood, as well as sports stars such as Ben Stokes, the cricketer.
Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory party leader whose home address was published after he received a knighthood, said that there were “very serious questions” about how this “complete disaster” had happened.
Alison Saunders, the former director of public prosecutions, was also among recipients, alongside Harry Billinge, a 94-year-old D-day veteran, and Ibrahim Yousaf, a 13-year-old schoolboy.
Last night, experts said the National Cyber Security Centre would probably be able to trace who downloaded the list, but it was warned that the data may be for sale on the dark web.
Nazir Afzal, a former chief prosecutor, told The Daily Telegraph that those who had their details published may even have to consider moving home.
“Every one of those individuals will now have to consider what personal impact there is for them, particularly those individuals in security and tackling serious crime and terrorism,” he said. “It is likely that they would not have been on the voters’ register as there would have been an element of sensitivity.”
He said celebrities were particularly vulnerable, such as Nadiya Hussain, The Great British Bake Off star who has received racist abuse.
“The people on the list may have to consider moving home or what steps they can take to protect themselves,” Mr Afzal said. “For the officers involved in the Skripal poisoning, we are talking about a nation state.”
Lord Kerslake, the head of the Civil Service between 2012 and 2014, called for an “urgent investigation”. “The addresses of people working in security must and should be kept confidential. The very fact it exists impacts on … their sense of well-being,” he said.
John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation, described the incident as
‘Every one of those individuals will now have to consider what personal impact there is for them’
“deeply concerning”, adding: “I am in contact with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) to ensure that whatever measures need to be taken to safeguard the security of any police officer, or member of their staff involved, are in place.”
It is understood that the personal details of recipients of the Queen’s Police Medal, which were on a separate list, were not published. A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said the force was “ensuring that appropriate action is taken with regard to our current and former officers and staff ”.
Martin Hewitt, the chairman of the NPCC council, said his organisation was liaising with the government departments and would work with local forces and the federation to ensure that all relevant action was taken in respect of the police officers and staff who were on the list.
The Cabinet Office has referred itself to the Information Commissioner, who has the power to issue fines of up to 4 per cent of turnover or £17million, whichever is greater. Affected individuals may be able to pursue legal action to get compensation from the Government. Bob Neill, the MP for Bromley & Chislehurst, who received a knighthood, said his home was already well known in his constituency. However, he added: “Leaving myself to one side, there are lots of people on the list who are in much more sensitive positions than me and that is very serious. It is a matter of privacy as well as security.”
Mr Neill said that there may need to be security steps taken “for those who are in sensitive but really important positions that could be a risk”.