Merseyside taxi drivers' home addresses exposed in worrying Sefton data leak

A significant data breach has exposed the names and addresses of thousands of taxi drivers on Merseyside, it has been revealed. The leak, affecting drivers licensed by Sefton Council, may have left sensitive information accessible online for up to five months.

The breach came to light on 5 September, when the council was alerted to the issue. It has since been rectified. However, drivers are expressing frustration and concern over the handling of the situation.

One driver licensed in the area described the shock of discovering his personal information online. He expressed fears for the safety of his family and fellow drivers, particularly female drivers, given the potential for abuse or stalking.

The driver also voiced concerns about the risk posed by difficult customers, fearing that those who had been aggressive or argumentative could now know his home address. "It has made me feel very vulnerable," the driver told BBC News, describing the stress the situation has caused.

The council’s system holds information on local firms such as Delta and Uber. The data breach coincides with the launch of a new taxi licensing platform in April, allowing drivers to apply for and renew their operating licences. It remains unclear when the breach first occurred.

A Sefton Council spokesperson apologised for the incident, stating that an urgent investigation is underway to determine the cause and prevent a recurrence.

A spokesman said: “We would like to apologise to anyone affected by this.

“We are currently carrying out an urgent investigation with our provider to understand how this incident occurred and steps that need to be taken to prevent it happening again.”