A laptop with personal data on directors of bankrupt companies has been stolen from the Insolvency Service.

The information was stored on one of four laptops stolen from the agency's offices at the end of August. It is believed that over 100 records of directors of small and medium-sized businesses were lost.

Data about third parties linked to the company directors is reported to be part of the information contained in the computer that has gone missing.

"The information consisted of documents sent to the Insolvency Service by insolvency practitioners who act as administrators, receivers or liquidators of insolvent companies," the Insolvency Service said in a statement.

"The documents included information about the activities of company directors which the insolvency practitioner considers may give cause for concern."

The data loss at the government body follows news this week that West Midlands Police is conducting an urgent search for a memory stick mislaid by a police officer while on duty.

It is understood that the stick's contents included information on terrorist investigations.

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