Welsh councils broke data protection laws "twice as often in 2013": BBC

The 22 councils in Wales broke data protection laws twice as often last year as they did in 2012, BBC Wales has said.

Responses to freedom of information requests suggested that there were 135 breaches in 2013, up from 60 the year before.

Incidents included a bag containing papers for a court case being left on a train.

Many of the cases involved sensitive information being given incorrectly to third parties (often by email).

A number of the authorities told BBC Wales that they had introduced new measures and provided training following the breaches.

Five authorities said they had recorded no breaches during 2013.

Anne Jones, Assistant Information Commissioner for Wales, told BBC Wales that it was “important local authorities live up to their legal responsibilities under the Data Protection Act.

"Keeping people's personal information secure should be hardwired into their culture as losses can seriously affect reputations and as a consequence, service delivery".