Scandal as Haringey Council leaves confidential records abandoned for over a year

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 22nd May 2008

Labour-run Haringey Council has run into another security scandal after it emerged that highly confidential files were left abandoned in an insecure location for over a year.

The news comes only shortly after it was revealed earlier this year that thousands of housing benefit files has been abandoned and despite promises that after that incident a thorough search had been made of all council property for any other files which needed securing.

Last year, Cllr Lyn Weber requested that the files dumped in a community room in the Colwick Estate were immediately cleared and personal records secured. However, the files were only finally removed a few days ago.

Cllr Lyn Weber (Crouch End) comments:

"I am flabbergasted that no action took place until residents and Liberal Democrats highlighted the issue. Haringey Council seems not to have learnt from their past mistakes. I asked Haringey Council to investigate more than once but still the confidential records were left in the community room."

Cllr Robert Gorrie, Liberal Democrat Leader, adds:

"Local residents and councillors had been given assurances by Labour Haringey that they took seriously breaches in individuals' confidentiality. Yet for more than twelve months they did nothing about these files. It has taken a direct approach by Liberal Democrats to the Chief Executive for something to be done and for the files to be taken into proper Council control. How can residents believe what Labour tell them?"