SFO loss of BAE Systems CDs and floppy disks sparks double investigation

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has revealed that it lost a cache of documents and electronic media used in its investigation of defence contractor BAE Systems. Two internal SFO investigations have been sparked as a result.
The incident, which took place between May and October 2012, included up to 32,000 document pages and 81 audio tapes and a selection of digital information. The SFO confirmed to V3 that the lost digital data included floppy disks, CDs, mini disks and backup tapes, which were sent to the wrong recipient. It said that 98 percent of the lost data had since been recovered, but this would still leave over 600 document pages unaccounted for.
"The SFO has a duty to return material to those who supplied it, upon request, after the close of an investigation," an SFO statement read. "In this instance the party requesting the return was sent additional material, which had in fact been obtained from other sources."
The SFO said that it had informed the 59 suppliers of the mishandled data about the situation.
As a result of the incident, the SFO asked the former director of security at the Palace of Westminster, Peter Mason, to conduct a review of the incident. Mason's recommendations were:

• Continuing ownership of the data in a concluded case by designated operational staff
• Redrafting of the responsibilities of the SFO's senior information risk owner
• Raising the profile of data handling as a key risk in the SFO's business

In addition, a further independent investigation has been instigated to "review all of the organisation's business processes".
The documents lost pertained to a bribery investigation following major arms deals between BAE and Saudi Arabia, including the sale of Typhoon fighter jets. The investigation was discontinued in 2006 following intervention from the prime minister at the time, Tony Blair.

In a statement seen by the BBC, BAE Systems concluded that the matter for the firm was "now closed".