We now have proof that all the government’s waffle about our identities being safe and secure in their care is a load of cr@p.

Computer Weekly has revealed that staff at THIRTY local authorities have been responsible for “serious security breaches” in the government database that will form the core of the national ID cards programme. Sensitive personal records have been viewed on the Customer Information System (CIS) run by the Department of Work and Pensions, which contains information on anyone with a National Insurance number and will be used as the basis for the National Identity Register.

“Regrettably, checks have identified some local authority staff are committing serious security breaches,” the DWP told local authorities in its Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit General Information Bulletin on 15 January.

“DWP will support your local authority to ensure appropriate disciplinary or prosecution action is taken, and may consider prosecuting directly under social security legislation,” it said.

The bulletin said staff should not access CIS records about or on behalf of their or their colleagues’ friends, relatives, partners, or acquaintances. Nor should they share their government passwords with other people.

The DWP said the breaches were all “view only” accesses of personal information stored in CIS records where there was no business justification for the access.

That is no comfort to me! Whether someone is “just looking” or making changes makes no difference – the privacy of my personal information has been compromised.

We need a rapid response and a rapid rethink from government on this crazy plan. Campaigners have been adamant since day one that this data would not be safe from prying eyes. Now we have undeniable, concrete proof.

Government, it’s over to you…