17 000 asylum files lost by UKBA

The Government lost more than 17,000 files containing the personal details of refugees and their families. According to the Guardian, the lost files are believed to contain the names, dates of birth, passport numbers and addresses of people applying to stay in Britain as well as details of their children. As a result, some of the affected people have had to begin the asylum application process afresh while still unable to work or claim benefits. Human rights groups criticised the UK Border Agency for the loss, saying it left vulnerable people open to identity theft.