About 200 workers at Southend Council staged a short walkout after a laptop computer containing their personal details was stolen.

The laptop, which held the banking details, National Insurance numbers, birth dates and home addresses of 1,400 council employees, was stolen from the car of a computer technician contracted to perform a system upgrade last week.

The walkout, lasting about ten minutes, was arranged by public service union Unison.

At 3pm on Friday more than 200 workers spilled on to the steps of the Civic Centre, demanding more information about how the breach occurred.

Among the workers involved was Cheryl Hindle, a service conditions steward, who said people were angry about the invasion into their private lives.

She said: "Some work with residents who become angry about council decisions - they are worried these people could find out where they live. People have been demanding more information, they want to know when the laptop was stolen and why we were only informed on Thursday."

Fears were also expressed about the possibility the details could be used to make purchases or to apply for official documents.

Senior management at the council distributed an e-mail informing staff of the theft.

A Southend Council spokesman, said: "Staff are understandably angry, and we are currently seeking all the available information so we can reassure them as far as possible."

Published Monday June 14, 2004

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