John Sparks

A report on this programme in May prompted the Information Commissioner to launch an investigation into serious security lapses in online applications for visas. Here's the problem with visas =: British High Commissions and embassies wrestle with huge case loads, touts, agents and queue marshals spring up to try and beat the system in places like Delhi, Lagos and Moscow. To deal with increasing demand, the government body responsible- UKvisas - called for technical and administrative help and a system was set up allowing Indian, Russia and Nigeria applicants to apply online. The company responsible for this is called VFS. It's part of the Kuoni Travel Group, an up-market Swiss holiday operator. Yet in December 2005, one Sanjib Mitra, an Indian national, found he could view the personal details of other visa applicants when he incorrectly entered his wife's details. This is a serious security flaw, fraudsters; even terrorists could use other individual's details to secure their own visas. Mr Mitra complained to Foreign office and VFS and they did nothing to fix the problem. Today the Information Commissioner, charged with protecting personnel data, said the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has broken the law.

domestic politics,