Three members of staff at Dundee Airport have been suspended after confidential personnel files used for security checks were left unattended.
However, The Courier understands that the three staff members were those who first raised concerns about the danger of leaving such sensitive data in unsecured parts of the airport, rather than anyone responsible for keeping those documents secure.
Paperwork found in the airport on two separate occasions contained the names of security staff, addresses, National Insurance numbers and even personal references from previous employers. Some staff claimed leaving such documents unattended could lead to a major security breach, as they are used when applying for security clearance to work at airside at any airport in the UK, as well as leaving staff open to the risk of identity theft.
A spokeswoman for Dundee Airport’s operator Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) said she could not comment on individual personnel matters but confirmed that several staff are currently suspended.
“HIAL is not in a position to comment on individual staff issues but can confirm that, following ongoing investigations at Dundee Airport with regards to a potential breach of security, three staff members have been suspended,” she said.
One airport worker, who asked not to be named, said staff are angry at management’s response to the data breach. Although the company launched an investigation into the episode last week the worker said staff had been suspended, simply for raising the alarm in the first place.
“Three members of staff have been suspended for an alleged breach of security,” he said. “These three people are a part of the original group who complained but are not involved or accused of anything to do with the documents being left lying about.
“General feeling within the staff is that these three have been pulled up on allegations that could have been dealt with by management easily but instead they have decided to make a big deal out of the whole thing.”
Earlier this month firefighters at the airport complained that protective leggings they had been given were not suitable for fighting aircraft fires. HIA which took over the running of Dundee Airport from the city council in 2008 said new leggings had been ordered for the fire crews.