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UK Cabinet office official to be charged over data loss.

You may recall the story from the UK in June 08 of this man who for security reasons must remain anonymous. He is a cabinet office official. He left top secret documents on a train. These documents were subsequently handed over to the police via the BBC. The actual specific content of the documnets has not been released en Mass but they may have been viewed by the persons or persons who found them, any number of associates of theirs, any number of BBC staff and members of the police force. 

The man at the centre of this investigation was on Ministry of defence secondment. There is no suggestion that this was negative secondment. There is no clear information as to it being positive or normal either. 

The only real indication here of an absence of criminal intent is the part of the act (clause 8.1) under which the man is being charged. This is one of the least serious charges and would point to misfortune with serious information rather than any premeditation.

The documents contents globally provided information about Iran’s military capability and data pertaining to Al-Qaeda. It was believed that this case would be handles by the Mod. The  Crown prosecution direction may be as a consequence of the handing over of the documents by the BBC to the police and not the Mod. This could however have no bearing and be a consequence of the sensitivity of the information. It is unusual however given the general consensus that if the charge is under article 8.1 there is likely no suspicion of intent.

The man at the centre of this case has been moved to an unnamed location. Given that his name has not been released and he has now been moved to an unnamed location one would hope that he has close family who will be following the case and his progress in time to come.