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Personal data found on roundabout Personal data found on roundabout
(30 minutes later)
Hundreds of documents containing sensitive personal data have been dumped on a roundabout in Devon.Hundreds of documents containing sensitive personal data have been dumped on a roundabout in Devon.
Details of benefit claims, passport photocopies and mortgage payments were included in the confidential data.Details of benefit claims, passport photocopies and mortgage payments were included in the confidential data.
The documents were found on Thursday at a roundabout near Exeter Airport by Karl-Heinz Korzenietz, from Dawlish.The documents were found on Thursday at a roundabout near Exeter Airport by Karl-Heinz Korzenietz, from Dawlish.
Mr Korzenietz said he found similar documents two months ago. The Department of Work and Pensions said it was urgently looking into the matter. Meanwhile, the MoD has confirmed that a latop containing the details of 600,000 people was stolen from a Royal Navy officer in Birmingham last week.
The Ministry of Defence said the laptop contained personal information relating people who had either expressed an interest in, or had joined, the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the Royal Air Force.
The MoD said it is treating the loss of this data "with the utmost seriousness", and was writing to some 3,500 people whose bank details were included on the database.
I was shocked and surprised that sensitive papers like this would be lost like that Karl-Heinz KorzenietzI was shocked and surprised that sensitive papers like this would be lost like that Karl-Heinz Korzenietz
In Devon, Mr Korzenietz said he found similar documents two months ago. The Department of Work and Pensions said it was urgently looking into the matter.
"When I came from Exeter Airport, I discovered lots of papers on the roundabout," Mr Korzenietz told BBC News."When I came from Exeter Airport, I discovered lots of papers on the roundabout," Mr Korzenietz told BBC News.
"I thought first of all it was rubbish. But when I looked at the papers I discovered they were highly sensitive."I thought first of all it was rubbish. But when I looked at the papers I discovered they were highly sensitive.
"I was shocked and surprised that sensitive papers like this would just be lost like that.""I was shocked and surprised that sensitive papers like this would just be lost like that."
When Mr Korzenietz found the first documents on 6 November 2007, he took them to the Royal Mail depot in Exeter.When Mr Korzenietz found the first documents on 6 November 2007, he took them to the Royal Mail depot in Exeter.
He said Royal Mail contacted him two weeks later to say the material had been returned to TNT.He said Royal Mail contacted him two weeks later to say the material had been returned to TNT.
'No missing data''No missing data'
But TNT said it is not aware of any missing data.But TNT said it is not aware of any missing data.
Spokesman Nick Murray said in a statement: "Investigations are continuing, but at this moment in time we have absolutely no record of any missing or lost data from this location.Spokesman Nick Murray said in a statement: "Investigations are continuing, but at this moment in time we have absolutely no record of any missing or lost data from this location.
"We would like to point out that we are not the only provider of services for the government.""We would like to point out that we are not the only provider of services for the government."
Mr Korzenietz has contacted Devon and Cornwall Police, who will collect the confidential material.Mr Korzenietz has contacted Devon and Cornwall Police, who will collect the confidential material.
The discovery could be another potential embarrassment for the government.
Last October, two discs containing the entire child benefit database was lost in transit after they were sent by HM Revenue and Customs to the National Audit Office without being registered or encrypted.
Government 'incompetence'
Then in December it was revealed details of three million driving theory test candidates were on a computer hard drive that went missing in the US.
And earlier this month the personal details of hospital patients were lost by the NHS.
Conservative MP Chris Grayling said: "You would have thought after the child benefits fiasco every department would have doubled and trebled their efforts.Conservative MP Chris Grayling said: "You would have thought after the child benefits fiasco every department would have doubled and trebled their efforts.
"The fact that this hasn't happened is incompetence of the highest degree.""The fact that this hasn't happened is incompetence of the highest degree."