Ministry of Justice apologizes after court staff accessed Southport victims' files

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has expressed regret for unauthorized access to documents related to victims and survivors of the 2024 Southport murders. A limited number of individuals had their sensitive personal data accessed, posing a high risk to their rights and freedoms. No evidence exists that the information was shared externally.

The MoJ spokesperson acknowledged the distress caused, stating, "Unauthorized access to court files is completely unacceptable." The incident has led to an immediate investigation, with the Prime Minister directing the Lord Chancellor to oversee the matter. All instances of wrongdoing will face severe consequences. The Register inquired about the number of staff involved, their employment status, and the reasons behind the unauthorized access, but the MoJ did not respond to these queries.

Affected individuals, including family members of victims and survivors, are being contacted directly. The investigation is being conducted by the HM Prison and Probation Service and the HM Courts and Tribunals Service, with the Information Commissioner's Office informed of the breach. This incident follows a series of inappropriate access cases to sensitive records.

North West Ambulance Service is also investigating potential unauthorized access to patient records from the Southport attacks, while nearly 50 staff members inappropriately accessed medical records of victims treated at Aintree University Hospital. The perpetrator, Axel Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time of the attack and has since been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, killed three children, injured eight children and two adults, and sparked violent riots across the UK. Rudakubana was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 52 years.