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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Ben Quinn

Surrey and Sussex police unlawfully recorded phone calls via app, watchdog finds

Two police officers walking away from the camera
The automatic recordings included ‘highly sensitive’ conversations with victims, witnesses and perpetrators. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

Two police forces have been reprimanded by Britain’s data watchdog after officers unlawfully recorded more than 200,000 phone conversations using an app originally intended for hostage negotiators.

The automatic recordings, made over several years, included “highly sensitive” conversations with victims, witnesses and perpetrators of suspected crimes, according to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

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