publicSIRO

Private details of around 30 staff at Cheltenham Borough Council were accidentally published on the local authority’s intranet.

According to reports, a list of 30 staff, containing their payroll number, wage, age and home address, was released onto the intranet system overnight before workers realised the mistake and removed the data.

The incident, which took place in April 2009, came to light following a Freedom of Information Act enquiry.  It was said to be the Council’s first accidental release of confidential information in six years.

Though a Council spokesperson downplayed the seriousness of the incident, the breach prompted the local authority to review internal procedures to prevent further incidents.

Source: Gloucestershire Echo, 16 January 2010.