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Insurer in breach over stolen laptop

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found legal expenses insurer Amicus Legal in breach of the Data Protection Act after it reported a laptop containing customers’ personal information was stolen.

The computer, privately owned by a contracted consultant, was not encrypted and held information on 100,000 customers, including sensitive information relating to legal advice.

CEO Andy Tomkins has signed a formal undertaking on behalf of Amicus Legal outlining that it will take reasonable measures to keep personal information secure in future.

ICO Head of Enforcement and Investigations Sally-anne Poole says senior executives must take personal responsibility for data protection, with 161 breaches reported by the private sector since November 2007.