2011 Annual Report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner
Case Study 12 - Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cambridgeshire Constabulary used communications data to good effect during Operation
Gritstone, an investigation into aggravated burglary. The brief circumstances of the case
are that two men attempted to force their way into a residential premises with the
intention of stealing cash and drugs. A friend of the homeowner barred their way and
in the ensuing struggle he was shot with a sawn off shotgun, receiving serious wounds. A
fingerprint from the scene identified a suspect from the Northampton area and two of his
known associates subsequently became suspects. Mobile telephones were identified for
the three suspects and a communications data strategy was devised. Initially subscriber
checks and call data was acquired to attribute the phones to the suspects. Location data
was then acquired and the analytical work showed that all 3 suspects travelled together
from Northampton to Cambridgeshire and then back to Northampton shortly after the
offence.The location data led the police to recover CCTV footage from close to the crime
scene which provided evidence of the suspects association to a vehicle that was later seen
by a witness around the time of the shooting. Communications data that was acquired as
part of the investigation also crucially led to the arrest of one of the suspects. All three
suspects were charged with possession of a firearm, grievous bodily harm and aggravated
burglary.The defendant who discharged the firearm pleaded guilty at Peterborough Crown
Court and was sentenced to 7½ years imprisonment. The other two defendants, one of
whom acted as the getaway driver, elected for a trial and in April 2011 they were convicted
on all counts. They were sentenced to 8 and 13 years imprisonment.
Case Study 13 – Northern Constabulary
Northern Constabulary used communications data very effectively during an investigation
into housebreaking and indecent assault of an elderly widow who lived alone in Alness,
near Inverness. The investigation team started by developing intelligence and research
on known sex offenders with similar modus operandi. Analysis of communications data
acquired in relation to one of these suspects actually served to eliminate him from the
enquiry. Further enquires identified that Central Scotland Police were investigating a
similar attack on an elderly female and had released a Crime Bulletin for information
on a suspect. Following liaison between the Scottish Forces it was established that this
suspect may also have committed similar attacks on elderly females in the Kilmarnock area.
The suspect was also sought by police from Lincolnshire as he had been convicted in his
absence of a similar offence in 2007 and was suspected of committing a further offence
in August 2010. Northern Constabulary took the lead in pursuing the communications
data strategy and a mobile phone number was identified for the suspect. Communications
data was initially acquired on this number using the urgent oral process as there was an
urgent operational requirement to arrest the suspect. This data indicated that the phone
was roaming abroad, and further intelligence and financial enquiries indicated that the
suspect was in the Republic of Ireland.The suspect was arrested on his return to Scotland.
Further applications for communications data requested subscriber / account information,
incoming and outgoing call data and location data on the suspect’s mobile telephone.
The data was requested for periods of time covering the four crimes and in the period
leading up to the suspect’s arrest. The data acquired was analysed and clearly linked the
suspect to the offences. Ultimately the data provided a vital contribution to the evidence
presented at the trial and the defendant was convicted of house breaking, assault and theft.
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