39 laptops stolen in Parliament over the past year

By Jonathan Walker on Jun 15, 12 01:30 PM in Politics

39 laptops have been stolen from offices in Parliament over the past year, an MP has discovered.

Harriett Baldwin (Con West Worcestershire) made inquiries after two laptops were stolen from her locked office on the Parliamentary estate during the Jubilee break.

Speaking in the Commons, she called for a debate on how MPs could make their offices secure.

Ms Baldwin said: "May we have a statement on security at the Palace of Westminster?

"Following the theft of two laptops from my locked office in Norman Shaw North during the jubilee recess, I have learned that there have been 39 such thefts in the Palace of Westminster over the past 12 months.

"Such a statement or debate would enable colleagues to learn about best practice in securing their valuable items."

Sir George Young, leader of the Commons, said: " I very much regret the theft from my hon. Friend of two laptops, which, as she said, were in a locked room.

"I have had a discussion with the Serjeant at Arms about this matter, and he takes it extremely seriously and is following it up.

"My hon. Friend reminds us, and indeed our staff, that we should take whatever precautions we can to ensure that we do not leave valuable equipment in unlocked rooms, to reduce the temptation towards such thefts."

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