COMPUTER equipment worth thousands has been stolen or moved in the last six months, Ealing Council staff have been warned.

The information was revealed in an email to staff and councillors.

One extract reads: “In the last six months, ICT have spent more than £65,000 replacing missing equipment.”

Opposition spokesperson on finance, Cllr Gary Busuttil, said: ”Liberal Democrats want to see Ealing Council run efficiently.

"We uncovered £1.5m of wasted spending that we would have reallocated to making Ealing cleaner and safer and helping many vulnerable residents.

“It is a smack in the face that Labour pours our council taxes down the drain.”

A council spokesperson said: “In recent months, ICT equipment, which should be left on office desks, has been moved and not returned.  

“This is not unusual in organisations that employ thousands of staff and when more staff are returning in higher numbers to work in offices, rather than at home or in other locations.

 “As higher numbers come into the office to work, the equipment they need is unfortunately being left at home, resulting in equipment being moved from office desks and then mistakenly taken home. 

“Equipment is also not always being returned in full when staff leave their employment with us.

 “We know there is no ill intention behind this, but it has resulted in new equipment needing to be purchased to ensure all staff can work productively in the office.”