IPCO Annual Report 2018
Error Investigation 8
Police Force
Human or Technical:
Human (Applicant)
Classification:
Transposition (Verbal)
Data Acquired:
Subscriber information relating to an Internet Protocol Address
Resolution
Description:
Police officers trying to locate a vulnerable missing person applied
using the urgency provisions for information that would identify a
location from which an internet service had been accessed. During the
urgent oral process the last digit of the internet address concerned was
not given and as a result, the application returned data relating to a
customer who had no connection to the incident. The correct internet
details were subsequently identified and although a delay had been
caused by the initial error, the person was found safe and well.
Consequence:
Police visited the premise of an individual unconnected to their search.
Error Investigation 9
Police Force
Human or Technical:
Human (Special Point of Contact, SPoC)
Classification:
Misinterpretation of data (Returned)
Data Acquired:
Subscriber information relating to an Internet Protocol Address
Resolution
Description:
Police officers investigating defamatory posts over social media
applied for data that would assist in identifying the users of relevant
accounts through their profiles, and the locations from which they had
accessed the internet. Misinterpretation of the data files returned led
officers to execute a warrant on an innocent family with all internet
devices seized.
Consequence:
The IPC decided that this error amounted to serious error (within the
meaning of section 231 IPA). Accordingly, IPCO notified the affected
person of the fact of the serious error and of that person’s right to
apply to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
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