HMRC attacked over 'missing items'

The Conservatives have accused the government of "a shocking security breach" after it emerged that a number of items had gone missing from a security depot.

HM Revenue and Customs refused to confirm the details of what was reported to have gone missing from its store at Coventry Airport.

But reports claimed that the items included confiscated passports and £80,000 worth of cocaine.
 
The news comes after HMRC lost two discs containing the personal details of 25 million people, and last week it emerged that the names and addresses of 7,685 motorists in Northern Ireland had been lost after being sent from the DVLA in Swansea.

"This is yet another disaster from HMRC; a shocking security breach from the same government department that last month admitted it had lost half the country's personal details," said shadow chancellor George Osborne.

"We expect the government to protect us. The very least they can do is look after the drugs that they confiscate."

An HMRC official said officers were "taking this matter very seriously".

He confirmed that "a small number of items" were missing, but refused to comment further because it was an ongoing investigation.