Here’s a story that reveals how backward the civil service can be: Inland Revenue abandons ‘insecure’ e-mail facility. I’m not surprised the staff feel humiliated and embarrassed. I thought my previous employer was risk averse, but this situation takes it to a new level. Next they will want to abandon the fax machine, telephone and post because they might all be used by criminals impersonating tax payers. This is just self-interest and incompetence masquerading as customer/citizen care.