Member of MoJ staff suspended over missing inquiry files

A member of staff has been suspended from the Ministry of Justice after files from three major inquiries went missing in the post.

The Ministry of Justice said an independent review had also been set up to find out how the information was lost.

The inquiries centre on Azelle Rodney and Mark Duggan, who were both shot dead by the Met Police, and Robert Hamill, who was beaten to death by a loyalists in Northern Ireland.

In a statement, the Ministry of Justice, said: "Government officials became aware on 8 January that two discs containing documents relating to these inquiries were missing, having been dispatched by post.

"Immediate steps were taken, including intensive searches to locate the discs.

"These searches continue with police assistance. The discs have not, as yet, been found."

Treasury Solicitor’s lawyers said they were reviewing whether any of the lost information posed a risk to anyone if it got into the wrong hands.

The MoJ said individuals will be contacted, where appropriate, to inform them of any personal information relating to them.