Ministry of Justice staff improperly accessed records of Southport stabbing victims

Records belonging to victims, survivors and witnesses of the Southport stabbing attack were improperly accessed by Ministry of Justice personnel, according to a recent audit. The breach, which included personal and medical details, was first reported to the Prime Minister in August, who instructed the Lord Chancellor to launch an investigation. Families were not informed until this month, sparking outrage.

An MoJ spokesperson called the unauthorised access "completely unacceptable" and apologized to those affected. Further scrutiny will determine if the Prison and Probation Service also mishandled data, and a comprehensive review of the ministry's handling of the case is planned.