Fears of Involvement by Hostile Intelligence Services
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has disclosed that hundreds of military and IT thefts have taken place, leading to concerns that "hostile intelligence services" may be involved. Defence Minister Andrew Murrison confirmed that four weapons were lost in 2023 and three in 2022, but he insisted that none were stolen and all were misplaced within the UK.
Security Passes for Defence Buildings Also Missing
In addition to the thefts, it was recently revealed that thousands of security passes for entry to defence buildings have gone missing in the past year. The Liberal Democrats have called for an official investigation into the thefts and the potential involvement of hostile intelligence services. Labour, on the other hand, has urged the government to take responsibility for ensuring the safekeeping of equipment.
Theft Details and Stolen Items
The MoD reported a total of 213 thefts in the year leading up to December. The stolen items varied widely and included service equipment, IT/Telecoms equipment, cash, fuel, and even metal. Among the stolen items were weaponry, boots, combat jackets, and other defence assets.
Missing Weapons and Misplaced Equipment
In a separate response, the MoD disclosed that in 2023, a handgun, a rifle, and two automatic weapons went missing. The previous year also saw the loss of a handgun, a rifle, and an automatic weapon. It is important to note that the MoD clarified that these losses were not the result of theft, but rather cases of misplaced weapons, with two of them eventually being recovered.
Call for an Official Inquiry
The Liberal Democrats have expressed great concern over these revelations and have urged the government to launch an official inquiry into the thefts, the extent of the losses, and the potential involvement of hostile intelligence services. Shadow defence minister Luke Pollard emphasized the importance of safeguarding national security and called on the Tories to ensure that equipment is kept in safe hands.
MoD's Commitment to Security
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence emphasized that the security of defence assets is taken very seriously and that robust procedures are in place to prevent losses and thefts. Additionally, all devices are encrypted to protect any stored information.
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