UK honour recipients' addresses accidentally published online

A British government department has apologised for accidentally publishing online the home addresses of New Year Honours recipients, including police officers, politicians and celebrities.

The addresses of most of the 1097 recipients could apparently be viewed for about an hour from around 11pm on Friday night (local time).

A Cabinet Office spokesman said the error had been fixed.

"A version of the New Year Honours 2020 list was published in error which contained recipients' addresses," he said.

"The information was removed as soon as possible.

"We apologise to all those affected and are looking into how this happened.

"We have reported the matter to the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) and are contacting all those affected directly."

Awards were given to England's Cricket World Cup winners, top entertainers including Elton John, and prominent figures from politics and the legal profession.

Among them were a former director of public prosecutions, an ex-Conservative Party leader, senior diplomats and figures from the military.

Only six people honoured for services to defence were left off the list, according to the BBC.

The ICO, which has the power to fine organisations for data breaches, said it was investigating.