Sensitive military documents found dumped on residential street
The papers, marked ‘sensitive’, were found spilling out of a bin bag.
The Ministry of Defence is investigating after a cache of documents containing sensitive military information was found discarded in the street.
The papers, some marked “official – sensitive”, were discovered spilling out of a black bin bag in the Scotswood area of Newcastle on March 16.
Downing Street said “appropriate action” would be taken after the discovery.
The BBC reported that the documents include details about soldiers’ ranks, shift patterns, email addresses, weapon issue records and access information for military facilities.
They appear to relate to units based at Catterick Garrison, the broadcaster said.
Among them was a sheet reportedly headed “armoury keys and hold IDS codes” – believed to reference an armoury and intruder detection system.
The find was made by Mike Gibbard, a football fan from Gateshead, who stumbled across the documents while parking ahead of Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup final clash with Liverpool.
He told the BBC he was shocked by what he saw.
“I peered down and started to see names on bits of papers, and numbers, and I thought ‘what’s that?’” he said.
“They were piled up against a wall, in a black bag, in the road, underneath cars – spread all the way up the road.”
He said he found more documents on the other side of the road and was alarmed by the contents.
“Details of the perimeter, the patrol, checking weapons in and out, requests for leave, mobile phone numbers, high-ranking officers,” he told the BBC.
“This shouldn’t be here, anyone could pick it up.”
Government guidance states that some “official – sensitive” documents could pose a “threat to life” if compromised.
The documents were handed in to Northumbria Police and a spokesperson said they were subsequently given to the MoD.
In a statement, a MoD spokesperson said: “We are aware that documentation allegedly relating to the department was recently handed in to the police.
“We are looking into this urgently and the matter is the subject of an ongoing internal investigation.”
Government guidelines recommend that sensitive documents be destroyed using shredders or “burn bags”.
A Number 10 spokesman added: “The Ministry of Defence is currently looking at documents handed to the police, but the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Army.
“As you will appreciate, I won’t be able to comment on any specifics while that takes place, but you can expect that appropriate action will be taken in response to any potential information breach.
“It’s obviously important that that investigation is allowed to take its course.”
