Jobcentres in Ipswich, Lowestoft, Thetford and Felixstowe hit by data breaches

New data has revealed how many Jobcentres in Suffolk have been hit by data breaches in the past year.

Figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) found that three Jobcentres had been affected since January 2024.

Of these, six breaches took place at Lowestoft’s jobcentre – one in 2025 and five in 2024 – while one each took place in Felixstowe and Ipswich.

A further three took place in Thetford in 2024.

A DWP spokesperson said: “We take our responsibility to protect data very seriously and have rectified all cases identified.”

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) identifies a data breach as a ‘breach of security leading to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data’.

Between November 2023 and January 2025, 418 total breaches were reported, the data found.

The DWP has not confirmed how many people were affected.

The data was obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Data Breach Claims UK .

Bethan Hakesley, from Data Breach UK, said: "In this current climate, jobseekers already have more than enough to worry about without a mistake causing their personal data to become public.

"Even one data breach is too many, especially if it causes a person significant stress. If personal data gets in the wrong hands, it can have a devastating impact.

"We've supported many people who have had their lives turned upside down by a simple error with serious consequences.

“If someone suffers mental harm or financial damage because of a personal data breach, they're well within their rights to look into claiming compensation."

The DWP also reported 261 ‘postal security incidents’ between November 2023 and January 2025 – where letters with sensitive information were sent to the wrong people.

However, none of these were reported in Suffolk.

According to the FOI, the DWP reported 19 data breaches to the Information Commissioner's Office in the 2023/24 financial year.