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AAP
AAP
Politics
Dominic Giannini

Cops failed to act above the line with data, phone taps

The Commonwealth ombudsman has reviewed covert electronic surveillance by police in all states. (Melissa Meehan/AAP PHOTOS)

Two police forces have mishandled surveillance powers or ignored warrant applications, including in a case where a journalist and their source were tapped without an appropriate warrant.

Northern Territory Police accessed data relating to a journalist and their source on four occasions without a request or authorisation of a journalist information warrant, the Commonwealth ombudsman's covert electronic surveillance review found.

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