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IPCO Annual Report 2017
18. Annex B :
Serious Error Investigations
Error Investigation 1
Responsible Party
Public Authority
Human or Technical
Human
Cause
Misinterpretation of data
Data Acquired
Incoming call data
Description
A public authority had reported to them the site where a body had
been deposited. This information was passed into the public authority
by a third person unconnected to the incident. From the information
gleaned through a translator the public authority sought to trace the
original informant.
The incoming call data covering the time period advised by the
translator captured just one number that led to the arrest of its
subscriber on suspicion of murder.
A later review established the call to have been mistranslated.
Consequence
Innocent person arrested and interviewed.