Blair’s ID card plan undermined by security breaches

James Kirkup

TONY Blair’s plan for a national identity card has been dealt a fresh blow by the revelation that several government officials have been sacked for breaching security around the databases on which the scheme will be based.

Unauthorised users have got around information technology defences at the Home Office’s Identity and Passport Service on at least four occasions in recent years.

The IPS holds personal data about every British passport holder, including date of birth, mother’s maiden name and other information that could be used by criminals.

It is understood that three IPS officials were dismissed after the database security breaches were uncovered and Home Office managers moved to contain the scandal.

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