Linky

Even if you’re not ultimately charged apparently although they say there needs to be sufficient reason to suspect the phone is being used for criminal activity.

It’s pretty scary really. I personally think it’s a gross invasion of privacy but I know there are other arguments in favour.

That is a bit out of order

I’m assuming its a ‘non-evasive’ system, as it doesn’t say and that there are strict controls around its use – ie to ensure that no one can update/amend data on the phone.

Wonder if the user has to supply the phone’s password?

lol wonder how much they paid for a “Special Device” laptop and usb cable, I can interrogate your mobile if I have my hands on it!

It does seem that successive governments do seem happy to erode our civil liberties to the point where we are now keeping data and DNA on people who have not even been charged with offences never mind convicted

it is the behaviour of oppressive govts and if it were elsewhere we would call them tin pot dictatorships

to come from a govt that is blue and therefore anti intrusive govt and from the liberals who are Liberal beggars belief and you could not make it up.

As for those who will argue if you are not guilty you having nothing to fear I would point out the government has no right to invade my privacy when I am doing nothing illegal as it has F all to do with them what I legally do.

I would them politely ask to see the NHS risk register that they have just refused to release despite what the information commissioner said and ask them to explain why their privacy is good an I dont need to know facts about their policies but they need to know about my life

Another poor day for democaracy
Awaits the CPT to attack a atory policy he wont support.expects a long wait

Doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

Can’t say I’m really bothered, I have no intention of getting arrested in the first place, if I did it’s not like I’ve been texting people using the words ‘bomb’ and ‘olympics.’

If you had some written notes in your pocket when you were arrested you’d fully expect the Police to have a read of them, just because those words are electronic does it really make any difference?

Can’t say I’m really bothered, I have no intention of getting arrested in the first place, if I did it’s not like I’ve been texting people using the words ‘bomb’ and ‘olympics.’

You’ve just posted them on a well known subversive internet forum. Unmarked cars are on their way to you as we speak.

I’ve just reposted them, so they’ll be along to see me afterwards. 🙂

If you had some written notes in your pocket when you were arrested you’d fully expect the Police to have a read of them, just because those words are electronic does it really make any difference?

Er yes, of course it does. You don’t tend to keep many gigabytes of personal data and data of many other people in your pockets do you?

Look at it like this, if you left your smart phone on a train without any means of locking access to that phone, how much would you worry about the data that someone could access from it?

That’s ostensibly the same issue with the police having access to your phone. Just because they are the police, doesn’t make the feeling of intrusion any less stressful.

“Examining suspects’ mobile phones after they are arrested is one thing, but if this technology was to be taken out onto the streets and used in stop-and-searches, that would be a significant and disturbing expansion of police powers.”

so they’re only doing it if you get arrested then?
don’t really see how this is different from looking through landline records, internet records, or rummaging through your hard disc, which they also have power to do. indeed, you can be banged up for just not coughing up the password to any accounts or equipment you have anyway, already. get upset about that if you want to, but it’s been going on for years.
oh, and if they’re interested, and you back up your iphone

If they want to read that my wife has called me a cock for the 4th time today they are welcome.

We would all do well to remeber the words of Martin Niehmoller:-

First they came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.

Nuff said

I very much doubt anyone is saying the police should not be abel to fully investigate once you have been arrested however this is the problem

The data includes call history, texts and contacts, and the BBC has learned that it will be retained regardless of whether any charges are brought.

They do not have the right to retain any information if I have done nothing illegal and I have not even been charged.
If they can do this they may as well stop people in the street randomly without evidence and do this

The threshold of ‘being arrested’ is not a particularly high one, for example in public order situations.

I don’t mind if the police have a legitimate reason for obtaining such data, but I’d prefer if they had to obtain a court order to do so – to at least offer some flawed scrutiny of the process.

Routine harvesting of personal information at the police station – without warrant or court order makes me slightly uncomfortable.

Look at it like this, if you left your smart phone on a train without any means of locking access to that phone, how much would you worry about the data that someone could access from it?

Smart phone? Mine’s a stupid one. “Thanks for the anniversary card, mum x” is about all the police could get if I was arrested.

bad news… if you’re up to no good

Bad news if you are good. If you’ve nothing to hide then why are They looking?

my phone is set to wipe itself if the passcode is entered incorrectly 10 times.

If I do ever get arrested, I know what I’ll be doing in the back of the van! Quick wipe of the phone, then restore it when I get home.

I’d be more worried/concerned that access to my phone gives access to all emails for the past 8 years…. can’t see how them retaining a copy of those is justifiable for minor alleged offences that don’t result in a charge.

Dave

so they’re only doing it if you get arrested then?
don’t really see how this is different from looking through landline records, internet records, or rummaging through your hard disc, which they also have power to do. indeed, you can be banged up for just not coughing up the password to any accounts or equipment you have anyway, already. get upset about that if you want to, but it’s been going on for years.
oh, and if they’re interested, and you back up your iphone

Internet records and landline records would only be looked at with a court order when they were fairly happy you’d done something seriously wrong. And even then they’d have very limited information, they wouldn’t have the content of the emails you sent and they wouldn’t have the content of the texts you sent (after a short period). In this instance they know who you spoke to and where/when, what you said, what emails you sent – significantly more information and they are keeping it in case they have to fish for things later when they’ve released you. Do you really trust the police to give them that power without complaining?

Remember, you don’t have to have actually done anything wrong to get arrested.
Plenty of things you’d not consider more than a minor infringement of the law can be used to stick against you if they mistakenly believe you’ve done something notably wrong, that combined with the thing they think you’ve done can add up to you looking *particularly* dodgy in combination.

Those who think it’s not an issue I fear are being slightly naive.

If I do ever get arrested, I know what I’ll be doing in the back of the van! Quick wipe of the phone, then restore it when I get home.

If you’re arrested they’ll take the phone off you before putting you in the van.

This isn’t anything new, it’s been in other police forces for a good few years already. you have to remember committing crimes has moved forward and unfortunately mobile phones are now regularly used to organise crimes to be committed, to store information on crimes that have been committed, but at the same time they hold information that alibi people out. The downloading of mobile phones is a very time weary process and isn’t done quickly.

it helped proved the innocence of this man recently:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18109962

EDIT: Coffeking you are wrong. Don’t need a court order to look at someones computer or landline.

If you’re arrested they’ll take the phone off you before putting you in the van.

shows how much I know about being arrested 🙂

So you need to set up an app that wipes your phone unless when prompted at a user definable interval, a correct password is entered. That said, why would you want to have so much of your personal info on one device and become so dependant on it?

EDIT: Coffeking you are wrong. Don’t need a court order to look at someones computer or landline.

Fair enough, but it still takes extra time and likely wouldn’t all be seized if I were nominally arrested for a scuffle in the street would it?

I’m afraid that while I’m nominally on the side of the police, I’m not on the side of this – too many powers with no reasonable justification. Sure it proves some peoples innocence but likewise I’ve seen the effect of poor police work and don’t much fancy “you” having extended powers to abuse.

Whats the problem with it, and its been happening for years anyhow.

One of my mates is currently sat in a room listening in to peoples mobile conversations for customs/police

I’m from the wrong side of the tracks by all accounts.. and IME unless you are up to mischief I would say that as a rule you have very little to fear from the police..

those who think it is an issue either have something to hide, or watch too many TV drama’s

I would hazard a guess that many of the naysayers here are ashamed of their porn fetishes etc..

your mate court order to allow them to do this and some actual evidence to suspect them etc

Coffeeking, heck no seizing a computer and doing checks on phones is very time laborious, we don’t just seize them for the **** of it. It also has to be proportionate and necessary. so you are looking at offences such as drug dealing, conspiracy offences, inddecent images those kinds of things. The problem is the world moves on and technology moves on with it. They are expensive to anaylse too.
AS for passwords, sometimes we can still get in! There is lots of data that mobile phones store that I bet a lot of people have NO clue about too.

Or have been on this earth long enough to remember when the UK was a relatively free nation.

One of my mates is currently sat in a room listening in to peoples mobile conversations for customs/police

not without a court issued warrant he isn’t.

I don’t really have a problem with this…I’m sure the Rozzers won’t find anything of interest in my call/text/browsing history.

Besides, why shouldn’t they have access to a suspect’s call history?

Alfabus again that’s wrong. Depends on the telephone, where it it, whose it is etc. Lots of ideas from TV on this thread at the minute 😉

Don’t care, The cops are welcome to look at my “hilarious” texts

Coffeeking, heck no seizing a computer and doing checks on phones is very time laborious, we don’t just seize them for the **** of it.

Using the right tools you could back up a 16 gig smartphone in about 10 minutes. If the police take longer Id be worried about the technology they’ve been sold, or maybe it’s the reams of paperwork you’re expected to do!

Alfabus again that’s wrong. Depends on the telephone, where it it, whose it is etc. Lots of ideas from TV on this thread at the minute

I know someone who worked for various comms companies as the person who facilitated this, the only time they could tap a connection is with a court order or with direct dealings with the highest security levels. Unless that has changed in the last 10 years? If neither person on the line knows the tap is happening it needs authorisation.

But as recent cases have shown, what you may consider to be funny can be viewed as offensive by the law.

An interesting take on Peter Tatchell’s latest campaign…

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2012/may/16/law-hurt-feelings-peter-tatchell

Besides, why shouldn’t they have access to a suspect’s call history?

Lets say, just for the hell of it, that you get arrested for something you didn’t do? Or that something you consider minor and a personal issue between you and someone else can be taken out of context and used to hold.

I would never have believed it until a recent case I was involved with where the person was innocent of the original offence (as finally proven) but had a shed load of other charges levied against them because they wanted to make a complaint. Don’t be so naive as to think that all police are good guys and nothing can go wrong. MC – you might be a shining light of the police and work perfectly all the time but there’s plenty about who should not be in uniform.

you aren’t just backing up a 16G phone though, they are looking at more than that.
yup if neither party knew you are correct but there are many other options on listening to people’s phoen calls, depending on where they are based, is it a work phone? prison phone? etc etc.

Surely they can search you or your house currently, if they suspect something? Is this any different? n Is it being done without warrant?

I don’t see how waiting til a charge was made to examine someone’s phone is of any use to anyone. Surely the point of it is to gather evidence to see if someone is a suspect in some case or other? Therefore by definition you’d NEED the information before being charged, wouldn’t you?

Coffeeking … the police will not know you’ve done nothing wrong until they’ve done some investigation, so surely by looking at your call history this proves yoru innocence you want this?

Coffeeking … the police will not know you’ve done nothing wrong until they’ve done some investigation, so surely by looking at your call history this proves yoru innocence you want this?

Everything can be read two ways and be taken the wrong way if the police want it to, I’ve seen this happen and ruin 18 months of someones life in and out of court to prove it.