More secret files found

Another batch of secret Government files has been found left on a train.The papers, said to cover UK policy on fighting global terrorist funding, drug trafficking and money laundering, were handed to a newspaper.They were said to include details of how trade and banking systems could be manipulated to finance weapons of mass destruction in Iran.The files were discovered on a train bound for London's Waterloo Station on Wednesday - the same day top secret documents by the Joint Intelligence Committee on Iraq and al-Qaeda were handed to the BBC after they were also left on a train.The latest batch included notes on a conference of the international Financial Action Task Force for a senior official at a reception to be held at Chancellor Alistair Darling's 11 Downing Street residence.Shadow security minister Baroness Neville-Jones said:"This is another incidence of the failure of the Government to safeguard sensitive information and yet another example of a lapse in discipline."In this case had the content been released the potential consequences could have included prejudicing the UK's position in international meetings. The Government cannot allow this to continue."A Treasury spokesman said: "We are extremely concerned about what has happened and we will be taking steps to ensure that it doesn't happen in the future."Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Keith Vaz, said: "We need an explanation from the Home Secretary whether all these breaches of security affect our fight against terrorism."Until the inquiry has been concluded and we are told how these extraordinary events occurred, no official no matter how senior, should be allowed to take classified or confidential documents outside their offices for whatever reason."It is astonishing how easy it is for these files to be left in public places. Our enemies don't even need to hack into our computers, they apparently just need to travel on public transport."

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ITN | June 15, 2008

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