MoD reveals 38 security breaches at Shropshire defence bases
Security at armed force bases in Shropshire has been breached on at least 38 occasions in the last eight years, new figures have revealed.
The Ministry of Defence has revealed security was breached at RAF Shawbury, RAF Cosford, MoD Donnington, Copthorne Barracks in Shrewsbury, Nesscliffe Training Camp and Clive Barracks, near Market Drayton.
According to figures released to the Shropshire Star following a Freedom of Information request the most breaches have come at RAF Cosford, with 16 since 2007.
The fewest were at Shawbury and Nesscliffe with one each.
Figures show there have been five unauthorised entries to military bases in the region since 2007.
Four of these were at MoD Donnington in Telford – in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013 – and one at Clive Barracks last year.
Fifteen thefts or losses of classified material have also taken place, including three losses and three thefts of material at RAF Cosford.
Other security breaches to have taken place at bases in Shropshire are listed as breach/contravention of security policy, disclosure, personnel security and other incidents.
The MoD said it treats all breaches of security very seriously and requires all breaches to be reported.
The MoD has recently revealed that security breaches against the department soared nationally throughout 2015.
The figures were released as a result of a written question to Mark Lancaster, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for defence, and tabled by Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham.
Mr Jones requested statistics about unauthorised entries to military bases, loss of classified materials and how many successful cyber breaches the MoD faced last year.
Mr Lancaster revealed that all three categories had increased since 2014.
The MoD has withheld information on successful cyber attacks on its systems in the interests of national security.
