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Metropolitan police send 1,000 victims each other's email addresses | Metropolitan police send 1,000 victims each other's email addresses |
(40 minutes later) | |
Scotland Yard has inadvertently shared the email addresses of around 1,000 victims of crime with each other, in a mistake that has been referred to the information commissioner. | Scotland Yard has inadvertently shared the email addresses of around 1,000 victims of crime with each other, in a mistake that has been referred to the information commissioner. |
The Metropolitan police said emails were sent out to 1,136 victims, mostly of car theft or pickpockets, as part of a survey on 30 January. But the addresses were put in the wrong section of the email, which meant they were shared with other victims. | The Metropolitan police said emails were sent out to 1,136 victims, mostly of car theft or pickpockets, as part of a survey on 30 January. But the addresses were put in the wrong section of the email, which meant they were shared with other victims. |
A Met spokesman said: "No other personal details were revealed and we are contacting everyone affected to explain what happened and to apologise." | A Met spokesman said: "No other personal details were revealed and we are contacting everyone affected to explain what happened and to apologise." |
Scotland Yard said it was now reviewing its processes in relation to surveys of this kind to avoid a similar error. "The sharing of data was a result of human error … as a matter of course we have notified the information commissioner's office." | |
The emails were sent as part of the survey into whether victims felt they were receiving a better service following the introduction of a single telephone number for the investigation unit in London. They were sent in seven batches of between 119 and 198 recipients. | |
The breakdown of types of crime the victims suffered is: one common assault; one criminal damage under £5,000; four criminal damage under £500; one criminal damage to a building other than a residential dwelling; 11 criminal damage to motor vehicles – £500 to £5,000; 73 criminal damage to a car worth under £500; nine criminal damage to other property under £500; one criminal damage to other buildings under £5000; 47 victims of false representation; 12 victims of interference with a motor vehicle; one victim of making off without payment; one victim of shoplifting; 324 victims of theft from a motorvehicle; eight victims of theft from other vehicles; 157 victims of pickpockets; six victims of a snatch; 319 victims of theft; 19 victims of car theft; and 125 victims of bike theft. | |
A spokeswoman for the Information Commissioner's Office said it had received the referral and it was being examined. | A spokeswoman for the Information Commissioner's Office said it had received the referral and it was being examined. |
She said the highest fine the office could issue was £500,000 but that was for breaches of data of an extremely sensitive nature, for example the sharing of details about child sexual assault victims. | She said the highest fine the office could issue was £500,000 but that was for breaches of data of an extremely sensitive nature, for example the sharing of details about child sexual assault victims. |
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