Serco worked charged over leaks "in connection" with Thetford riots
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James Jobson, of Highlow Road, Costessey, was charged with misconduct in public office. Serco has said it is cooperating.

Serco Thetford

A Serco employee has been charged in connection with a leak of addresses that were later targeted in attacks on homes in Thetford, police say. Serco is a major service provider across defence, customer service, asylum seeker housing and other sectors.

ITV reported on 18 August:

A man who works for Serco has been charged over the release of addresses linked to asylum seekers which were later targeted during disorder in a Norfolk town.

The properties in Thetford were vandalised and police officers were assaulted during three nights of anti-immigration unrest earlier this month.

Rioters in Thetford, Norfolk, tried to break into a property they believed housed asylum seekers on 4 August. The racist violence continued for three days.

🚨 NEW: A Serco employee has been charged with misconduct in public office after allegedly leaking the addresses of properties housing asylum seekers

— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) August 18, 2026

Norfolk Police told ITV:

James Jobson, of Highlow Road, Costessey, was charged with misconduct in public office when he appeared before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Leaked addresses via Serco

The force said the charges were:

in connection with the release of information relating to a number of addresses in Thetford, which were later targeted during several nights of violent disorder.

ITV added:

Jobson works for Serco which has contracts to run some public services including providing accommodation for asylum seekers.

Serco told reporters:

This matter is currently being handled by the police, and we are cooperating fully. As this relates to an ongoing legal process, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

The riots reached such a tempo that by 6 August police:

imposed ‘public safety measures’ after a crowd tried to break into a property they believed housed asylum seekers. The measures allow police to order people they suspect of anti-social behaviour to leave an area, and/or to remove face coverings.

Officers were bitten, spat at and had bricks thrown at them during the Thetford disorder. The Eastern Daily Press reported on 14 August that over 20 arrests have been made in relation to the disorder.

Featured image via the Canary

By Joe Glenton

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