A POLICE force is scrambling to recover nearly 100,000 computer files deleted by mistake.

       South Yorkshire Police is unsure how the data, including bodycam footage that was set to be used in 67 criminal cases, was lost.

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       Assistant Chief Constable Rick Alton admitted there was no guarantee the files could be recovered Credit: PA

       The force has brought in specialists to find out how it happened and to try to recover the 96,174 files from July 2020 to May 2023.

       It said hackers were not involved but it was not known whether it was a human or -computer error.

       The force has alerted the Information Commissioner’s Office and is liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service to work out the likely effect on the 67 criminal cases.

       Assistant Chief Constable Rick Alton admitted there was no guarantee the files could be recovered.

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       He added: “I am deeply sorry.

       “We’ve had a team of people working around the clock manually checking each case currently within the criminal justice system.”

       The CPS said: “We are -supporting work to explore potential impact on a small number of cases.

       “Our lawyers will establish what further action needs to be taken.”

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       It follows the Police Service of Northern Ireland releasing data of its serving officers.

       Thousands of other routine files have also been lost, many of which do not relate to crimes.

       That was followed by Norfolk and Suffolk Police's announcement that the personal data of more than 1,000 people, including crime victims, was included in another FOI response.

       An ICO spokesperson said yesterday: “We are aware of an incident at South Yorkshire Police and are making enquiries.”