UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ministry of Defence staff lost 15,000+ security passes in five years, raising concerns and criticism over negligence in protecting sensitive defence sites.
As reported by The Telegraph, officials at the Ministry of Defence have confirmed a record loss of security passes by its personnel. Over the last five years, MoD staff have lost more than 15,000 security passes, with an additional 1,000 reported stolen.
Nearly 80 MoD passes go missing every week from the nation’s defence institutions.
How did activists breach RAF security amid missing passes?
Experts have expressed fears that the increase in missing MoD passes may lead to serious security or terror risks if obtained by hostile groups.
The incident follows a break-in at RAF Brize Norton by pro-Palestinian protesters, who damaged two military aircraft on Friday morning.
According to Palestine Action, two activists entered the RAF base in Oxfordshire and targeted two Airbus Voyagers with red paint inside their engines.
Following Friday’s break-in, senior politicians like Nigel Farage and Robert Jenrick have urged the UK to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
What did the Freedom of Information reveal about missing passes?
According to FOI figures, the number of lost MoD security passes nearly doubled in four years, rising from 2,043 in 2020 to over 3,830 by 2024.
Over the same timeframe, stolen security passes tripled from 82 in 2020 to 278 in 2024.
Figures reveal fewer MoD passes were reported missing during the pandemic, but numbers increased again once on-site work resumed.
What did the security experts say about MoD pass losses?
According to a security industry expert, some companies have adopted “exchange badging.” In this system, employees carry blank cards without names or firm details. The blank card allows employees to enter the company building, where they exchange it for a personalised access pass.
The security source stated,
“This system is used more frequently now, and it has the advantage that if a card is lost outside, it is just a blank piece of plastic and the security ramifications are much less.”
Admiral Lord West of Spithead, former Navy Chief, stated in 2023 that missing passes were “not something that should be taken lightly”. He warned, “It is a security risk, but also a terrorist risk.”
John O’Connell, the chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said,
“It’s ludicrous that thousands of security passes have been lost or stolen by those in the very department meant to keep Britain safe.”
What did Col Philip Ingram say about the risks of missing passes?
Col Philip Ingram, ex-army intelligence officer, stated,
“What the numbers highlight is a worrying lack of responsibility by employees, so there should be consequences if passes are lost – as one has to ask what else is being misplaced.”
He added,
“However, the loss of passes provides a small risk – to access sensitive areas, there are always other checks, whether they be signing into guard rooms or security offices, using digital PIN codes or other means.”
MoD spokesperson’s views on security breaches
A Ministry of Defence spokesman stated,
“We treat all breaches of security very seriously and we require all suspected breaches to be reported. All incidents are subjected to an initial security risk assessment, with further action taken on a proportionate basis.”
Ministry of Defence key incidents
- Personal data of up to 272,000 serving and retired military personnel was compromised via a third-party contractor (SSCL)
- Around 600 employee passwords for the MoD’s Defence Gateway portal were leaked on the dark web, with 124 compromised in 2024 alone
- A threefold increase in reported breaches over the past five years, including 35 incidents flagged to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and a £350,000 fine in December 2023