Theft of School Photographer's Camera Bag in Lewes Raises Pupil Data Concerns

A break-in between 6 and 7 October left Pret-a-Portrait, a school, family and event photography company, without a camera bag containing SD memory cards that may hold images of children at Priory School in Lewes, East Sussex, England. Jon Curtis-Brignell, the school's principal, told parents by email that some cards could have carried photographs taken at Priory School along with images of QR code cards showing pupils' names and class names. The same equipment had been used for three further photography jobs after Pret-a-Portrait visited the school on 1 October, widening the possible exposure. Data held in the school's own systems — addresses, contact details, financial and medical information, and safeguarding records — was not affected. Pret-a-Portrait, which has offices in the U.K., Qatar and the UAE, believes most or all pupil files were overwritten but cannot confirm it. The company took all school photos offline, changed access IDs, reported the theft to police and the Information Commissioner's Office, and now wipes SD cards after every job. Owner Nick Kerr said there is no evidence the stolen files were accessed. The Register first reported the incident.