Key facts
- A parliamentary inquiry found the UK Ministry of Defence's data breach exposing Afghan applicants' details was a "foreseeable systemic failure."
- The breach involved over 18,500 applicants to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme.
- A super-injunction prevented reporting on the breach for nearly two years.
- The inquiry criticized the MoD's use of Excel and its overall handling of the relocation scheme.
- Afghan special forces members who served with UKSF expressed fear for their lives after their rejections were overturned.
- A legal challenge is ongoing from former Afghan special forces unable to reach the UK.
A parliamentary inquiry has concluded that a data breach exposing the personal details of thousands of Afghans applying to come to the UK was a "foreseeable systemic failure." The Commons' Defence Committee's report, published on Thursday, stated that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) lacked the necessary expertise to manage the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
The committee criticized the MoD's operational procedures, training, and data protection culture, highlighting the use of inappropriate tools like Excel as a "continuing cultural failure." The breach, which came to light in August 2023, involved the data of over 18,500 applicants. A super-injunction, initially expected to last four months, prevented reporting on the incident for nearly two years, which the committee chairman, Tan Dhesi, described as imposing "serious costs on accountability and trust."
Dhesi asserted that the MoD should "stick to defence" and not be responsible for immigration casework. The report also questioned the government's policy of secrecy surrounding special forces matters, suggesting it had been used as a "shield against proper accountability." The committee was unable to confirm reports that the breach was linked to the involvement of UK special forces in deciding on the relocation of Afghan special forces, but raised concerns over the handling of these cases.
Many former Afghan special forces members, who served alongside UK forces, have expressed fear for their lives since the Taliban's return. The report noted that a significant proportion of decisions to reject these individuals were subsequently overturned, demonstrating the seriousness of the MoD's failure. A legal challenge is currently before the Royal Courts of Justice from former Afghan special forces families struggling to escape to the UK, with one family reportedly having only "$200 left to survive."
A MoD spokesperson acknowledged that the incident "should never have happened" and committed to learning lessons, stating that reforms including improved data protection standards and strengthened case-working processes are already in place. The ministry welcomed the scrutiny and committed to concluding the resettlement program.