Families of children injured in the July 2024 Southport attack have raised serious concerns after court files containing sensitive information about victims and their relatives were accessed without authorisation. The data breach has prompted an investigation involving several government agencies.

The incident came to light following an internal review of digital systems, which revealed the unauthorised access to confidential records. This followed earlier scrutiny of the North West Ambulance Service, which was examining whether some staff had inappropriately viewed victims’ medical records related to the attack on a local dance class.

One family member of an injured child described the impact as profoundly distressing, highlighting the cumulative effect of two separate breaches involving the ambulance service and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The parent called for an end to what they characterised as a “culture of snooping.”

Nicola Ryan-Donnelly, a solicitor from Fletchers Solicitors representing 22 of the 23 surviving children, has also called for an independent investigation. She condemned the apparent “grim, voyeuristic culture” surrounding the mishandling of sensitive information connected to the attack.

The Ministry of Justice issued a statement apologising to those affected and emphasising that the matter is being treated with urgency. The Prime Minister has directed the Lord Chancellor to oversee the investigation. The MoJ stressed that any wrongdoing will be met with “extremely firm action.”

Both the Prisons and Probation Service and the Courts and Tribunals Service are currently conducting inquiries into how the breach occurred and who may be responsible. Details about the specific nature of the accessed information have not been disclosed.

The attack on the Southport dance class, which occurred in July 2024, left multiple children injured and has since been the focus of ongoing legal proceedings and public concern over the privacy protections afforded to victims and their families. This latest controversy adds to the sensitivities surrounding the case and raises questions about data security within public services involved in the response and judicial process.