Police trawl faulty mobile phone data to safeguard trials
POLICE forces have begun trawling crime and counter-terror intelligence reports after faulty mobile phone data is believed to have been submitted as evidence in criminal cases.
It is understood experts are manually checking databases for information provided by O2, amid concerns the problem could cause trials to be further delayed or case convictions challenged.
The telecoms firm informed police chiefs that there were concerns about the accuracy of information it was providing to forces in February, but the bug has been in the system for more than a year and is understood to still not be fixed.
Lawyers have complained that they have not been formally told about the issue, despite the Home Office launching a major investigation.
The fault relates to a phone’s unique international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number, which can be used by police to track a handset even if the SIM card has been removed and swapped. The problem could mean that inaccurate information about calls a defendant made or received is presented to juries.
Jessica Sobey, a barrister at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors, said: “Reports of faulty mobile phone data being used as evidence in cases for over a year demonstrates a systemic issue with the way in which digital evidence is treated.”
The Criminal Bar Association, which represents barristers, said it had not yet been made aware of “any alleged deficiencies”.
Association chairman Tana Adkin KC said: “The CBA looks forward to any updates from the relevant authorities, including the Home Office, on mobile phone data in criminal proceedings to ensure ongoing compliance with the disclosure rules.”
A Home Office spokesman said an investigation was ongoing. An O2 spokesman said: “We take this matter very seriously and we have notified the relevant bodies, taken steps to help mitigate against a recurrence in the short-term and our teams are currently working to determine the facts.”