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An Afghan relocation scheme was established by the previous government in response to a major data breach that exposed the personal information of nearly 19,000 individuals seeking to move to the UK following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. The breach, which occurred in February 2022 when a British defence official inadvertently released the details, prompted the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to create a new resettlement scheme nine months later. As a result, 4,500 Afghans have already arrived in the UK, with an additional 600 individuals and their families expected to follow.
The existence of the leak and subsequent scheme had been kept confidential for over three years due to a superinjunction obtained by the government. However, on Tuesday, a High Court judge ruled that the gagging order should be lifted, allowing the details of the breach to be made public. The leaked information included names, contact details, and family information of individuals at risk from the Taliban, prompting the government to disclose that the Afghan Relocation Route had cost £400 million so far and is projected to cost another £400-450 million.
Defence Secretary John Healey issued a formal apology to those affected by the breach, attributing it to a “serious departmental error” involving the unauthorized sharing of a spreadsheet outside of government systems. While the Metropolitan Police determined that a criminal investigation was unnecessary, an independent review found that the risk posed by the leak was limited. Despite concerns that the leaked data may have reached Taliban-affiliated individuals, the review deemed the relocation scheme to be a crucial intervention. Those relocated to the UK have already been included in immigration figures, and measures have been advised to safeguard against potential risks stemming from the breach.
The fallout from the data breach dates back to the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, which culminated in the Taliban reclaiming power in Kabul. The leak implicated applicants for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme, prompting the government to establish a new relocation initiative. Notably, the media faced a superinjunction preventing the disclosure of details related to the breach, leading to criticism from various stakeholders. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge condemned the breach as a violation of data protocols, while legal representatives of affected individuals described it as a “catastrophic failure.” The government’s response to the breach and subsequent relocation efforts have underscored the challenges and complexities associated with the Afghanistan evacuation
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