The Ministry of Defence is facing significant criticism for its inadequate control over employee access to sensitive information regarding weapons, ammunition, and explosives. A recent report from the National Auditors and the Auditor General highlights these serious security flaws.

The report reveals that numerous employees within the ministry have access to sensitive information in its IT systems without a proper assessment of whether such access is necessary for their job functions. This includes details about the quantity and location of weapons.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Defence is failing to adequately monitor who accesses this sensitive information.

The auditors warn that this lack of oversight could lead to the deliberate or inadvertent disclosure of information about the Armed Forces’ weaponry, which could then be exploited for espionage, sabotage, or other criminal activities. The “sharp criticism” issued by the National Auditors represents a serious indictment of the ministry’s practices.

The National Auditors recommend that the Ministry of Defence re-evaluate whether employees with access to weapon-related information genuinely require such access for their work. This recommendation applies regardless of whether employees have security clearance, a point previously emphasized by the Ministry of Defence.

In response to the report, the Ministry of Defence has announced that it will implement measures to enhance its IT security protocols.