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| New Year Honours: 1,000 addresses published in error | New Year Honours: 1,000 addresses published in error |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A list of more than 1,000 addresses of New Years Honours recipients, including those of senior police officers and politicians, has been accidentally published by the government. | A list of more than 1,000 addresses of New Years Honours recipients, including those of senior police officers and politicians, has been accidentally published by the government. |
| The file was uploaded to the official website, but has since been removed. | The file was uploaded to the official website, but has since been removed. |
| The Cabinet Office told the BBC: "We apologise to all those affected and are looking into how this happened." | The Cabinet Office told the BBC: "We apologise to all those affected and are looking into how this happened." |
| Among the addresses are those of Sir Elton John and former director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders. | Among the addresses are those of Sir Elton John and former director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders. |
| Also on the list of 1,097 honours recipients are high-profile names like cricketer Ben Stokes, former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, TV cook Nadiya Hussain, and former Ofcom boss Sharon White. | Also on the list of 1,097 honours recipients are high-profile names like cricketer Ben Stokes, former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, TV cook Nadiya Hussain, and former Ofcom boss Sharon White. |
| A government spokesman said: "A version of the New Year Honours 2020 list was published in error which contained recipients' addresses. | |
| "The information was removed as soon as possible. | "The information was removed as soon as possible. |
| "We have reported the matter to the ICO [Information Commissioner's Office] and are contacting all those affected directly." | "We have reported the matter to the ICO [Information Commissioner's Office] and are contacting all those affected directly." |
| The ICO, which has the power to fine organisations for data breaches, said it will be "making enquiries". | The ICO, which has the power to fine organisations for data breaches, said it will be "making enquiries". |
| Analysis: 'Hugely embarrassing for government' | Analysis: 'Hugely embarrassing for government' |
| By home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford | By home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford |
| It is hugely embarrassing for the government that, in the act of honouring people for their public service, it has managed to put them at risk by releasing their home addresses on an official website. | It is hugely embarrassing for the government that, in the act of honouring people for their public service, it has managed to put them at risk by releasing their home addresses on an official website. |
| Many of those honoured will be annoyed, but some could be genuinely endangered. | Many of those honoured will be annoyed, but some could be genuinely endangered. |
| These include men and women from Northern Ireland working in policing and justice, two chief constables and a prisoner governor, as well as two people working in the Home Office's office for security and counter terrorism. | These include men and women from Northern Ireland working in policing and justice, two chief constables and a prisoner governor, as well as two people working in the Home Office's office for security and counter terrorism. |
| High-profile entertainers, sportsmen and MPs also had their addresses released. So did several people who have worked in Holocaust education. | High-profile entertainers, sportsmen and MPs also had their addresses released. So did several people who have worked in Holocaust education. |
| Each in their own way could be put at risk. | Each in their own way could be put at risk. |
| It is not yet clear how many times the list of addresses was accessed before being taken down, but if just one of the people who read it downloaded it with malicious intent, then it is impossible to put the genie back in the bottle. | It is not yet clear how many times the list of addresses was accessed before being taken down, but if just one of the people who read it downloaded it with malicious intent, then it is impossible to put the genie back in the bottle. |
| Those addresses could be forwarded to anyone at the click of a button, or - perhaps worse - posted on a website or chat server for thousands more people to download. | Those addresses could be forwarded to anyone at the click of a button, or - perhaps worse - posted on a website or chat server for thousands more people to download. |
| Simon Winch, a sustainability professional from London, was among those who were able to access the sensitive information. | Simon Winch, a sustainability professional from London, was among those who were able to access the sensitive information. |
| He told the BBC: "I clicked on the link on the gov.uk website at around 11pm on Friday and the spreadsheet opened up. | He told the BBC: "I clicked on the link on the gov.uk website at around 11pm on Friday and the spreadsheet opened up. |
| "At first I thought everyone on the list had given their permission to publish their personal addresses. But then I saw that some quite sensitive names were on there." | "At first I thought everyone on the list had given their permission to publish their personal addresses. But then I saw that some quite sensitive names were on there." |
| Another source told the BBC they accessed the file just after midnight on Saturday but were unable to do so by 05:00 GMT. | Another source told the BBC they accessed the file just after midnight on Saturday but were unable to do so by 05:00 GMT. |
| The Cabinet Office said the document was visible for around an hour. | The Cabinet Office said the document was visible for around an hour. |
| Most of the entries in the spreadsheet include full addresses - including house numbers and postcodes. | Most of the entries in the spreadsheet include full addresses - including house numbers and postcodes. |
| The addresses of six people honoured for their services to defence are not listed but other potentially sensitive addresses - such as those of some police officers - are. | The addresses of six people honoured for their services to defence are not listed but other potentially sensitive addresses - such as those of some police officers - are. |
| A separate list, that does not appear to be involved in the breach, covers gallantry awards for police, ambulance and fire staff and military personnel. | A separate list, that does not appear to be involved in the breach, covers gallantry awards for police, ambulance and fire staff and military personnel. |