122
IPCO Annual Report 2017
Error Investigation 16
Responsible Party
Communication Service Provider (CSP)
Human or Technical
Human
Cause
Limited number of recycled mobiles still having previous subscriber
assigned to it
Data Acquired
Subscriber
Description
Public Authority trying to trace the subscriber for a mobile number
used to make an abandoned 999 call. Under urgent provision the Public
Authority accessed the CSP’s portal and obtained the subscriber details.
To combat a known issue within the disclosure system of this particular
CSP staff will recheck any request to checks its accuracy. If an
inaccuracy was found the CSP would advise Public Authority. Given the
urgency the Public Authority had taken action before the CSP was able
to advise them of an error.
Consequence
Visit made to home unconnected to this incident.
Error Investigation 17
Responsible Party
Communication Service Provider (CSP)
Human or Technical
Human
Cause
Cross wires within street furniture
Data Acquired
Subscriber information relating to an IP address
Description
Peer to Peer sharing of indecent images of children (IICO) identified
by a public authority. IP address resolution led officers to a home.
Equipment seized no incriminating data found.
Three months later similar activity was again linked to the same home,
police revisit house nothing incriminating found.
Further activity was identified two months later and home revisited.
Examination of the router found an anomaly with the IP address
assigned to it. The CSP contacted and their investigation found cross
wires within the street furniture. The crossing of two wires assigned the
internet activity of one house as that of the other and vice versa.
Consequence
Three visits to the home of an innocent family.
Equipment seized.
Safeguarding protocol enacted.
IPT aware.