DWP workers sacked as dozens of staff 'snoopers' caught - 'extremely serious'

DWP workers sacked as dozens of staff 'snoopers' caught - 'extremely serious'The Department for Work and Pensions says it takes breaches 'extremely seriously'CommentsMoneyRobert Rowlands Deputy editor, money and lifestyle, content hub15:56, 17 Apr 2026Updated 15:57, 17 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesAndrew Western MP has revealed details of the breaches(Image: Parliament TV)The DWP has been forced to boot out snoopers after revealing staff have been sacked for wrongly looking at personal data. Large numbers of its workers have also been disciplined, the department has admitted.‌The revelation came in a parliamentary response to a question that had been submitted by a Tory MP. Mike Wood, MP for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, had asked the Department for Work and Pensions "whether there have been any (a) disciplinary actions and (b) dismissals of (i) DWP and (ii) executive agency officials for unauthorised access to personal data since July 2024.‌This week, the DWP responded to the MP's question. They said seven people had been dismissed as a result of 'unauthorised access'. More than 200 people working for the department have had a disciplinary case opened against them in the last 12 months.‌View 2 ImagesAndrew Western MP speaking in the House of Commons - file image(Image: Parliament TV)Andrew Western, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department for Work and Pensions, said: "DWP takes its responsibility to safeguard personal data extremely seriously. All staff have an obligation to report suspected breaches; security responsibilities are covered in mandatory security training, undertaken annually.‌"As of 28 February 2026, we have 94,876 employees in the Department, of which, there are 227 individuals who have a disciplinary case currently open or closed within the last 12 months relating to ‘Unauthorised Access’, of which 7 individuals were dismissed. These figures cover both paid and unpaid Department fo...