FOI REQUEST REVEALS LAPTOPS AND MOBILE PHONES STOLEN FROM ROYAL BOROUGH
Over the past four years 28 laptops and 24 mobile phones - which may contain local residents' confidential information - have been stolen or lost from council premises .
An investigation led by the local press has uncovered the worryingly high figures which pose further questions about the under-fire Royal Borough's security measures.
The Royal Borough had already faced criticism after The Royal Borough Observer revealed last year that 388 council-owned laptops were unaccounted for.
During an audit and performance review panel council meeting, Cllr McBride (Conservative), dismissed the losses as 'not a big security breach'.
He also said the losses mostly date back to 2005 and ensured residents steps have been taken to reduce laptops with confidential information going missing.
But from data obtained by a Freedom of Information request, revealed that last year alone three laptops and five smartphones were lost or stolen. That adds to six laptops and eight mobile phones in 2012-13 financial year and 15 laptops and five smartphones the previous year.
Further Reading: