It has now been confirmed by HM Revenue and Customs that the locations of six more discs cannot be accounted for. These six were labelled missing on October 30th - their contents being recorded conversations involving an employee and a customer.

Meanwhile, the search for the two discs containing 25 million Child Benefit records continues.

The second missing disc package became so after it was sent from Preston to HMRC's London-based headquarters in Whitehall. The same internal mail used to despatch the two Child Benefit cds was again used here.

Courier TNT Now Involved in Child Benefit Disc Search

The focus of the police's investigations into the first two discs is now the courier company TNT - offices belonging to which are now being searched. Details of exactly which offices, and of how many are involved are not yet known. However, a TNT spokesman did confirm a search of the firm's London depot had been undertaken on the 23rd November.

Regarding the possibility of the discs having jointed TNT's system, the spokesman added: "We have been given absolutely no proof either from HMRC or from the police that these discs ever entered the TNT system, let alone that we have mislaid them. HMRC confirmed to us last night that they use two other companies for internal mail."

A spokesman from HMRC provided confirmation that the agency employed the services of alternative courier firms, stating that the search for the Child Benefit discs would be a "wide ranging and comprehensive" one.

"All the evidence points to the fact that these discs are still on our premises", the spokesman added.

47 Detectives Working to Recover Lost Child Benefit Discs

The operation to recover the pair of lost cds involves a central investigative team of 47 detectives who work for the Specialist and Economic Crime Directorate.

As has been widely documented, the discs themselves carry personal information relating to every UK family with a child below 16 years of age. The data includes their names, addresses and, in some instances, bank details.

Banks/ Government Disagree on Fraud Repayments Issue

Away from the core search, a row has erupted over whether the banks or the government should bear the financial burden of any consequential fraud involving the lost information. While both Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling - the UK Prime Minister and Chancellor respectively - have advised customers that repayments would be provided by the banks, an alternative viewpoint has emerged.

A letter - which received the signatures of APACS, the Building Societies Association and the British Bankers' Association - redirects this financial responsibility back to the Chancellor.

No response to this has yet been provided by the Treasury.

Anybody affected by the two lost discs is being urged to monitor their bank accounts for signs of "irregular activity". The main message, however, is that the information contained on the cds would not be enough to permit fraudulent use.

Source - Security International's Current Affairs Correspondent

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