The Ministry of Justice has apologised after victims and witnesses of the Southport attack had their personal data inappropriately accessed by government staff in 2024, in what officials called a "completely unacceptable" breach. Those affected were only told about the incident recently, despite the disciplinary process against those responsible having concluded in April 2025, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer was informed only last month. Lord Chancellor Alex Norris has now launched an urgent investigation, which could see the disciplinary case reopened, amid accusations from victims of a cover-up by senior management.

The breach involved staff at HM Courts and Tribunals, who had no connection to the case, accessing sensitive victim, survivor and witness records held by the MoJ following Axel Rudakubana's murder of three girls—Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice DaSilva Aguiar—at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July 2024. It is the second such breach to affect Southport victims this year, after it emerged in May that 48 NHS staff had improperly accessed victims' medical records. Dance instructor Leanne Lucas, who survived the attack, said she was "devastated and horrified" and accused staff of abusing their position of trust, while the MoJ said all wrongdoing would be met with "extremely firm action".