Two homes raided in criminal probe of Hancock video leak

Investigators from the UK Information Commissioner’s Office on Thursday seized computers and electronic devices from two homes in southern England as part of an investigation into the leaking of pictures of former health secretary Matt Hancock.

The ICO said in a statement it was acting after receiving a “breach report” from Emcor, operator of closed-circuit TV cameras at the offices of the Department of Health and Social Care, alleging images were taken from the department’s CCTV system without the permission of the company or the department.

Images of Hancock kissing an aide, Gina Coladangelo, were published in the Sun newspaper on June 25. The pictures, which showed that Hancock was breaking Covid-19 social distancing rules that he had himself promoted, prompted him to resign a day later.

The incident immediately prompted questions about how the newspaper had obtained the footage, apparently from a CCTV camera in the ceiling of Hancock’s office.

“As part of the investigation, ICO teams searched two residential properties in the south of England on Thursday 15 July 2021,” the ICO said. “Personal computer equipment and electronic devices were seized as part of the operation.”

The department said it was investigating alleged breaches of Section 170 of the Data Protection Act, which deals with the obtaining or disclosure of personal data without the appropriate consent.

The ICO did not identify the individuals whose homes were raided.

The statement marks the first confirmation that Emcor, a Connecticut-based building services provider, has reported itself to the ICO over the affair. It is also the first time it has been confirmed that a criminal investigation into the leak is under way.

The camera in Hancock’s office, the apparent source of the leaked footage, had been in place since before the DHSC moved into the Victoria building in 2017, and dated from a period when the Parliamentary Estates Directorate occupied the offices in question.

The Sun reported that the person who gave it the footage had wanted to expose the hypocrisy of Hancock in breaking his own coronavirus social distancing rules.

The DHSC said it took the security of its personnel, systems and estates “extremely seriously”.

“The department will continue to engage and co-operate with the Information Commissioner’s Office while they assess the information provided,” the department said.

Emcor confirmed it had submitted a breach report alleging images were recorded from the DHSC’s CCTV system without consent.

“Emcor UK takes the security of its data and that of its customers very seriously and we are fully co-operating with the ICO’s investigation,” it said.

Steve Eckersley, the ICO’s director of investigations, said it was vital that all people, including employees and visitors to public buildings, had trust and confidence in the protection of their personal data captured by CCTV.

“In these circumstances, the ICO aims to react swiftly and effectively to investigate where there is a risk that other people may have unlawfully obtained personal data,” Eckersley said. “We have an ongoing investigation into criminal matters and will not be commenting further until it is concluded.”