PERSONAL details of 200 staff from a Christchurch-based housing group were mistakenly emailed to a member of the public.

Staff payroll information including names, addresses and dates of birth, as well as the National Insurance numbers of employees at Spectrum Housing were mistakenly emailed out by a member of staff two and a half weeks ago.

The social housing provider employs around 800 staff across 23 offices in the south, which include Christchurch and Blandford Forum.

The information was listed on an Excel spreadsheet and incorrectly emailed after a staff member selected the wrong recipient.

The data was part of a file relating to one of the company’s pension schemes, although it did not contain information relating to individual salaries or bank details.

Anne Wildeman, group director of human resources and facilities at Spectrum, described the incident as a “genuine mistake.”

She said: “Unfortunately there has been a data protection breach involving limited details of approximately 200 of our employees.

“The staff member concerned immediately notified us of the breach.

“We are treating this matter very seriously.

“Our data protection breach team met as soon as the breach was identified to decide what actions need to be taken.

“We have offered our sincere apologies to our staff that this has happened.”

Ms Wildeman added: “We have contacted the person who received the data who has assured us that he has no intention of passing on the data and has completely deleted the data file.

“As far as we can be, we are satisfied that he has done this.”

Spectrum has also contacted the Information Commissioners Office and has notified its insurers while taking out CIFAS Protective Registration as a further method of protection for employees.

They will also be reviewing their training schedules and improving IT systems.