Description:
A police force was conducting an investigation into a business
address receiving harassing calls of a sexual nature. The
witness statement correctly identified the offending number.
This number was incorrectly typed into the police force’s
crime recording system. When the force made an application
for subscriber information, the applicant used the incorrect
number within the crime recording system. The police visited
the subscriber’s postal address. They were not at home, but
the police were able to speak via telephone and arranged an
interview at a local police station. Before the appointment, the
subscriber obtained his own billing information. He was able
to prove that he had not been in contact with the affected
business number. Further applications for communications
data were then made by police and a check of the witness
statement provided the absolute proof that an error had been
made.
Consequence:
The police visited the home of an individual unconnected with
the investigation and arranged an interview.
Error Investigation 3
Error by:
Public Authority
Human or
Technical:
Human
Cause:
Incorrect month and year provided to a CSP.
Data Acquired:
Subscriber information relating to an IP address.
Description:
A police force was conducting an investigation into a social
media username that was using social media to incite sexual
acts by children. The applicant made two accurate applications.
But when transposing the data in a further application, the
month and year were incorrectly typed in. Only this one of
the three requests brought back a name and postal address.
Following a series of circumstantial coincidences, officers
executed a warrant, arrested the householder, and seized his
electronic devices. During his interview these coincidences
were explained, and the transposition error identified.
Consequence:
A search warrant was executed at an address unconnected with
the investigation. Devices were seized for forensic examination,
and an innocent person was arrested and interviewed.
www.iocco-uk.info
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