Sutton Council lost details of children, individuals in social care and a package of documents, breaching the Data Protection Act, it emerged today.

Sutton Council lost a paper file with personal data relating to 73 individuals receiving social care and had two unencrypted laptops containing more personal information stolen, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) revealed.

One laptop had social care data of 39 individuals and the other information relating to nine children being taught by a teacher employed by the council.

The package of documents went missing when a courier used by the council left it with the recipient’s neighbour.

The council has now agreed to take action to comply with data security requirements and has signed an Undertaking to assure the ICO that personal data will be kept securely in future.

Paul Martin, chief executive of the council agreed to ensure that portable and mobile devices, including laptops and other portable media used to store and transmit personal data are encrypted.

The authority also agreed to ensure security measures are adequate to prevent unauthorised and unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction or damage.

Staff will be made aware of and receive training on the council’s policy for the storage and use of personal information.

Sally-anne Poole, head of enforcement and investigations at the ICO, said: “It is vital that personal data is handled securely. This is an important principle of the Data Protection Act.

“I urge all organisations to implement the appropriate safeguards to ensure personal details are stored and processed securely.

"I am pleased with the remedial action the London Borough of Sutton has agreed to undertake to improve data security.”

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