Professor of computing at The Open University, Darrel Ince, has criticised what he says are "systematic security failings which encompass many organisations, not just central Government", following high-profile data losses such as DWP and DVLA.

"While a very small proportion of information security breaches are malicious, the vast majority -more than 70 per cent - of all cases are caused inadvertently by staff who have been encouraged to place their trust in secure technology rather than thinking more carefully about their own actions," said Ince. He claims a culture change is essential with people taking responsibility.