Description:
A backlog developed in a CSP’s call data record. Instead of
bringing this data into their wider database, they inadvertently
eliminated a series of files. As a result, these did not show up in
any searches. Once this was discovered, the CSP investigated.
They found that 21 requests were made, which should have
returned results from the eliminated data. Each request was
rerun and the correct results provided to the relevant public
authority.
Consequence:
The CSP wrote to all of the relevant public authorities affected.
None identified any significant impact on their operations.
Error Investigation 27
Error by:
Communications Service Provider (CSP)
Human or
Technical:
Technical
Cause:
O2 Locations
Data Acquired:
Cell locations for SMS (Text) data.
Description:
CSP merging two services to better support communications
data requests made by public authorities. When the merger
was postponed, the systems were reset. This affected location
data results for text messages. The issue was fixed within a
week, but in that time, 1,246 SMS locations in 600 requests
had the potential to be inaccurate.
Consequence:
The CSP wrote to all of the relevant public authorities affected.
In 46 cases, the corrected call data record was brought into
evidence replacing what had been first supplied. In 10 of
these, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was required to
reconsider the change as new evidence. Under the Criminal
Procedure & Investigations Act (CPIA), a determination was
made on whether the evidence undermined the prosecution or
assisted the defence.
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