MP Demands Abandoned Record Victims To Be Contacted

10.48.35am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 18th Feb 2008

Commenting of the apparent discovery of 20,000 Housing Benefit records abandoned by Haringey Council, local Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone MP comments: "I am shocked and extremely concerned for the people affected. They urgently need to know the risk they have been exposed to by Haringey Council's incompetence. They must be contacted immediately so they can check whether or not they have been a victim of identify theft or fraud.

"Then, the council leaders need to sit down and seriously review their archiving system. With benefit claims, child protection documents and council tax records, Haringey Council holds some extremely sensitive information on virtually every person in the Borough. Local residents deserve cast-iron guarantees that their private records will not have the same fate."

Ms. Featherstone has made urgent representations to Haringey Council's chief executive demanding the council contacts those involved and carries out a full independent investigation.

Notes:

Report in the Sun newspaper http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article813230.ece