Civil service departments report losing large numbers of electronic devices, according to figures compiled from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. The reported average is around 47 devices going missing each week, with a total cited figure of roughly 7,000 devices across government departments.
The data are presented as covering losses of devices holding sensitive information, with outlets focusing on how frequently “most sensitive” data is affected. One reported theme is that the missing devices are recurring rather than isolated incidents, suggesting persistent gaps in tracking or security processes.
Across outlets, the emphasis varies between the scale of weekly device losses and the specific category of information linked to those devices. However, all the reported coverage relies on the same FOI-derived approach to compile departmental loss figures and does not describe individual cases or provide details on whether lost devices are recovered or used.
