The Ministry of Defence has been accused of “leaking money through basic incompetence”, with Defence Secretary John Healey urged to “get a grip”.
The figures were released by the Ministry of Defence following a Freedom of Information request (Image: Getty)
New shocking figures show more than 1,000 devices have been lost or stolen from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) since 2024, sparking claims of a “security crisis”. The majority of devices that went missing between January 2024 and March this year are believed to have been lost by staff.
None of the laptops, tablets and phones reported missing during the period has been recovered. Replacing all of the devices could cost around an eyewatering £1.6 million, the new data suggests. Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson James MacCleary called on Defence Secretary John Healey to “get a grip” of the issue.
The Lib Dems have urged Defence Secretary John Healey to ‘get a grip’ on the missing devices (Image: Getty)
Speaking to Sky News, he said the missing devices represent a “security crisis”. He added: “Every pound counts when our national security is at stake and the government’s defence investment plan is still missing in action – yet the MoD is leaking money through basic incompetence.
“Seeing taxpayer cash vanish into a black hole of lost laptops and stolen phones is a kick in the teeth – every pound spent replacing an iPad is a pound taken away from the frontline.”
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said the statistics, released by the MoD following a Freedom of Information request and shared exclusively with Sky News, are a “real concern”.
According to the MoD data, 132 laptops and tablets and 36 phones are believed to have been stolen over the 27-month period from January 2024. It is believed that the remaining devices were lost by staff.
In March last year, the Express revealed more than 260 MoD phones had gone missing in just two months, prompting claims of an “extraordinary” security breach.
An MoD spokesperson: “We take the security of defence assets extremely seriously and have robust policies and procedures to prevent losses and thefts.
“If any assets are reported lost or missing due to suspected criminal activity, we take the necessary steps to investigate, prosecute and recover the items.”