MPs and parliamentary staff have had dozens of workplace digital devices stolen from locations including pubs and trains.
Nearly 70 recorded losses over the course of last year include iPads, phones and laptops going missing or being stolen from homes, public transport and on the parliamentary estate.
In several instances, thieves stole devices likely containing, or providing access to, sensitive information used for parliamentary business.
While some of the losses took place in busy public places, other parliamentary-supplied items went astray in suspicious circumstances on the Westminster estate itself.
In one incident, a laptop went missing from a bag supposedly being looked after by a friend of a member of an MP’s staff as they dined in a restaurant.
Professor Anthony Glees, a security and intelligence expert at the University of Buckingham, told Metro: ‘One thing’s for sure, MI5 will be hopping mad at this insult to national security.
‘Their owners can be blackmailed but if our enemies and adversaries, such as the Russians and Chinese, get hold of the devices we are all endangered. What makes it worse is that we’re dealing with lawmakers, likely privy to the secrets of government.
‘Everyone with half a brain knows that we are now in a pre-war situation and it’s time our lawmakers behaved accordingly.’
One of the reports obtained by Metro reads: ‘Had dinner at [REDACTED], bag was in user’s possession and when [REDACTED] went to the toilet [REDACTED] friend was watching the bags. Left [REDACTED] and took a
Tube back to [REDACTED] and walked back to [REDACTED].
‘When the user got back into [REDACTED] room the laptop was missing from the bag. User is not sure when and how it was taken.’
The MP’s staffer was advised by the House of Commons’ service desk to contact the police after the incident on February 20.
Forgetfulness played a role in some of the losses, with another log reading: ‘As previously advised this was accidentally left in a car I sold and I have been unable to retrieve it.’
The loss of an iPad on December 4 was reported by a parliamentary digital service worker, according to the information released by the Commons after a Freedom of Information Act request.
Another member of parliamentary staff reported a laptop stolen on a train on March 7 last year.
The log reads: ‘Put backpack on luggage rack with parliamentary laptop and [REDACTED]. Man came beside user, took backpack and got off the train at the next stop.’
The theft was reported by the Commons passholder to the British Transport Police and to parliament’s service desk.
On March 22, a laptop belonging to a member of staff went missing at their home, with no explanation given.
‘We can only assume it has been lost,’ the report states.
One of the thefts of IT equipment took place at a pub on May 1.
The report from an MP’s staffer reads: ‘Stood at the [REDACTED] side of the [REDACTED] pub — bag was placed by your foot after several minutes noticed the bag was gone. Scotland Yard contacted [REDACTED] to say bag was found but laptop was not there — police logged what was missing — but crime reference number not given.’
Another report, from April 30, also concerned a theft from a pub reported by a member of Commons staff.
The log states: ‘Customer said that [REDACTED] was outside the [REDACTED] pub on [REDACTED] and realised that [REDACTED] bag containing [REDACTED] parliamentary laptop has been stolen.
‘[REDACTED] has checked with staff and it has not been handed in.
‘I have asked [REDACTED] to obtain and provide us with the crime reference number.’
The log continues: ‘Calls logged to all relevant teams, customer asked to obtain crime reference number from Police and notify us.’
iPhone lost in park
One of the most heavily redacted incidents involved a phone being lost in a park by a worker for the parliamentary digital service.
The log reads: ‘iPhone – lost in park. [REDACTED] as this was put in [REDACTED] personal phone, so [REDACTED] can still be contacted on: [REDACTED]. The work phone has [REDACTED] personal number on it.
‘Not reported to police as only lost.
‘Tried calling it and it is going to voicemail.’
The person called parliament’s service desk to report the loss of the phone, which was not retrieved.
The next 11 lines of the report are completely redacted.
The logs also suggest that some of the parliamentary IT users did not follow basic security precautions.
Another report, dated October 30, reads: ‘I left my iPad in my boot of my car in my bag and someone during the night & someone broke into my vehicle and took my iPad.’
An MP left behind an iPad at an unnamed airport on December 12, with the report stating: ‘Travelling back from [REDACTED] left the parliamentary iPad at the security scan (x-ray) machine tray…realised once on the plane…unable to contact the airport, as of yet.’
The sensitive nature of the information on the devices is hinted at in a theft from a Commons staff member on July 18.
The report reads: ‘Laptop, two mobiles, bag [REDACTED] has been stolen in [REDACTED]. Work phone and duty manager phone supplied by parliament.
‘Potentially public contact info due to working in school department.’
The incident, which is recorded as ‘off-site’, was reported to the police, who provided a crime reference number.
Nine of the incidents occurred on the parliamentary estate, with all being marked ‘lost’ bar one, where a laptop and iPad were recorded as ‘lost/stolen’ with no outcome given.
In total, there were 66 reports in 2024 where IT equipment was not located.
The names of the passholders and further details of the incidents, such as whether they were investigated, were not provided.
Devices supplied by parliament to passholders are encrypted, according to the Commons’ Information Compliance Team.
A UK parliament spokesperson told Metro: ‘We provide advice to users – including members of both Houses – to make them aware of the risks and how to manage their equipment safety.
‘However, we do not comment on specific details of our cyber or physical security controls, policies or incidents.’
Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact josh.layton@metro.co.uk