The following articles could form a records managers worst nightmare, confidential documents on show for the world.

Detailing some of the disposal disasters listed below should ensure you always have support for a documented secure destruction procedure.

Alteration of Records

Breaches of Privacy

Breakdowns in Accountability

Catastrophes

Deliberate or Illegal Destruction of Records

Inadequate Corporate Recordkeeping Systems

Inappropriate Disposal of Records

Non-compliance

Operational and Organisational Failures

Inappropriate Disposal of Records

Prison files destroyed ahead of Freedom of Information Act

Prison authorities in the North of Ireland destroyed 52,382 files in the months before the Freedom of Information Act was introduced, the records included security files of terrorists held at Maze Prison. The data included prisoner records, policy notes and medical logs and was disposed of before the January 2005 law making public bodies more transparent. This is not the first time Maze Prison has been accused of inappropriate destruction of records, in 1997 it came to light that 800 security files on terrorist prisoners released under the Good Friday Agreement were also shredded.

Source Ireland On-Line December 12 2006

'Confused' Police doctor dumps 700 documents in street bin

Dr Kameran Kader, a former surgeon at the Charles Cross Police Station in Plymouth was accused of misconduct after he left some 700 confidential documents ripped up by a bin in the Lidget Green area of Bradford.

The discovered documents included personal details of sex abuse victims, a witness statement from a victim of child abuse, records of patient examinations, patients' blood test results, and forms containing suspects' names and addresses.

Dr Kader told the court he did not know how long he was supposed to keep his records and said I was quite confused at the time, before revealing he sat in his car, ripped up the papers and put them in carrier bags before dumping them in a bin.

Dr Kader remains under supervision and subject to conditions specified by a General Medical Council for the next 18 months.

Source: Yorkshire Post May 2006

US Attorney dumps old records in Park Dumpster

Detectives are investigating US attorney James Madison Woods after more than 100 legal documents were found in a park dumpster in Shreveport, Louisiana. The dumped documents contained significant amounts of personal information including medical records and X-rays that contained social security numbers, which Detectives say is perfect for identity thieves. The Louisiana Bar Association is also investigating the incident.

Source Channel 6 News, K-TAL TV March 2006

Acorn Healthcare Services are in hot water after client records containing private medical information meant to be binned and shredded were found scattered alongside a busy road.

The papers disclosed names, ages, dates of birth, addresses and medical conditions such as mental illnesses and physical disabilities, clients' routines and where they kept their medication. Acorn clients whose records were found are now concerned with their personal safety, with the possibility of identity theft and break and enter a potential threat.

Source Scotsman News March 2006

Student records left on New York city street

A failure to properly destroy records has resulted in hundreds of folders of sensitive information including names, telephone numbers, medical records and psychological reports being left outside the Department of Education in New York recently. Confidential information pertaining to thousands of students was left on the street in plain sight with the regular rubbish, these records included those of students with severe injuries and medical conditions.

Source NY Daily News

US Attorney dumps old records in Park Dumpster

Detectives are investigating US attorney James Madison Woods after more than 100 legal documents were found in a park dumpster in Shreveport, Louisiana. The dumped documents contained significant amounts of personal information including medical records and X-rays that contained social security numbers, which Detectives say is perfect for identity thieves. The Louisiana Bar Association is also investigating the incident.

Source Channel 6 News, K-TAL TV March 2006

Medical records found in dumpster

Medical records were left in and around garbage bins outside a shopping centre in Detroit. The medical facility involved stated that the records were housed at a secure storage facility and were supposed to have been destroyed. The medical centre is investigating the circumstances that lead to patient’s records being improperly destroyed.

Source Click on Detroit

Port Arthur Massacre video goes public

Police have confirmed that a graphic police video showing gruesome crime scene footage of victims of the Port Arthur massacre has fallen into public hands. The Tasmanian Police Deputy Commissioner Jack Johnston responded to media reports that the highly sensitive police tape depicting the massacre scene had been sold in a Hobart tip shop for 10 cents.

Source Yahoo! News

Sydney Morning Herald August 28, 2004

California INS centre destroys 90 thousand original documents

Two employees of a Western Californian branch of the INS were indicted recently for ordering low-level employees to destroy documents. Over 90 thousand documents were destroyed including American and International passports, originals of birth certificates, work permits, citizenship applications and associated documents that cannot be replaced. The documents were destroyed to reduce a growing backlog of unprocessed paperwork.

Source Global Nation

Pickfords secure document delivery truck loses it's load in the middle of Dunedin

In Dunedin a secure document delivery truck loaded with sensitive material destined for destruction lost its load. The contents of the truck flew across a major intersection with passersby stopping to help pick the documents up. A spokesman from Pickfords Records and Information Managers refused to say how the incident that stopped traffic occurred, but it is worrying to consider what kind of documents were lost in the mishap.

Source Otago Daily Times

Court officials throw confidential documents in garbage outside courthouse

In America a magistrate has admitted to confidential court documents being disposed of improperly. The documents included civil case records, employee time sheets, court bank records and information in some felony cases. The documents were thrown in an open garbage bin at the front of the court house with easy access to anyone walking past.

Source KRGE

Doctor destroyed medical records of university student who subsequently died

A doctor from Northwestern University saw a young football player for a medical checkup and after the visit threw away the boys records. Three weeks later the boy died at football training of causes unrelated to the training. When questioned the doctor said she couldn’t remember anything about the boys visit and admitted to throwing away the records.

Source The Mercury News

Hundreds of medical records have been discovered in a garbage bin outside a Florida florist

Outside a Florida Florist a passerby found hundreds of illegally dumped medical records. These records contain sensitive personal information including driver’s license and social security numbers as well as telephone numbers and addresses. The doctor accused of the inappropriate disposal of these records has since left Florida and the matter has been transferred to the police so charges can be laid.

Source Local 6 News, Orlando

Royal family's confidential medical records found on roadside

Confidential medical records relating to the Queen and other senior members of the Royal family were discovered dumped by the side of the road. Whoever was supposed to destroy the information obviously didn't do a very good job said the man who discovered them.

Source BBC News Mar 13 1999

What a Dump!

Unexploded bombs, dead pets, unshredded medical records... in the second part of her investigation into the world of waste Emma Brockes visits one of Europe's largest landfill sites.

Source The Guardian May 21 2002

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