ID :
170238
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 11:59
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/170238
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Phone, Net taps used to uncover drugs
SYDNEY, March 23 (AAP)-Phone and internet taps are most often used to uncover information about serious drug crimes, a new report by the federal attorney-general has revealed.
The report on the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 for the year ending June 30, 2010, found the total number of telecommunications interception warrants granted to Australian law enforcement agencies was 3584.
Investigating serious drug offences was the main reason police set up phone and internet taps, with 1678 warrants granted in 2009/10 for this purpose, followed by 584 for murder and 395 for serious personal injury or death.
Just more than 200 related to money laundering, 170 to terrorism, 162 for bribery or corruption, 41 for kidnapping, 30 for people smuggling or sexual servitude and nine for child pornography.
Almost 2000 arrests were made on the basis of lawfully intercepted information during the last financial year, a 12 per cent increase on figures from the previous period.
About the same number of convictions were obtained using lawfully intercepted information given in evidence.
The cost of internet and phone taps for law enforcement agencies around the country increased by about 10 per cent from 2008/09 but that included giving Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) and police force access to their own permanent telecommunications interception capabilities.
Agencies spent a total of $46 million in 2009/10 on taps.
Not including the CMC, Victoria's Office of Police Integrity had the highest average price per warrant, about $56,000, while NSW Police had the cheapest, at about $4000.
A similar review of the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 for the same period found 522 warrants were issued to agencies.
The number of convictions obtained where surveillance material was given in evidence was 24.
"Access to these investigative tools is crucial in tackling serious criminal activities such as terrorism, child pornography and drug trafficking," Attorney-General Robert McClelland said.
"At the same time, it is important that we have strict oversight to ensure these powers are used appropriately while protecting the privacy of law-abiding Australians.
The report on the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 for the year ending June 30, 2010, found the total number of telecommunications interception warrants granted to Australian law enforcement agencies was 3584.
Investigating serious drug offences was the main reason police set up phone and internet taps, with 1678 warrants granted in 2009/10 for this purpose, followed by 584 for murder and 395 for serious personal injury or death.
Just more than 200 related to money laundering, 170 to terrorism, 162 for bribery or corruption, 41 for kidnapping, 30 for people smuggling or sexual servitude and nine for child pornography.
Almost 2000 arrests were made on the basis of lawfully intercepted information during the last financial year, a 12 per cent increase on figures from the previous period.
About the same number of convictions were obtained using lawfully intercepted information given in evidence.
The cost of internet and phone taps for law enforcement agencies around the country increased by about 10 per cent from 2008/09 but that included giving Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) and police force access to their own permanent telecommunications interception capabilities.
Agencies spent a total of $46 million in 2009/10 on taps.
Not including the CMC, Victoria's Office of Police Integrity had the highest average price per warrant, about $56,000, while NSW Police had the cheapest, at about $4000.
A similar review of the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 for the same period found 522 warrants were issued to agencies.
The number of convictions obtained where surveillance material was given in evidence was 24.
"Access to these investigative tools is crucial in tackling serious criminal activities such as terrorism, child pornography and drug trafficking," Attorney-General Robert McClelland said.
"At the same time, it is important that we have strict oversight to ensure these powers are used appropriately while protecting the privacy of law-abiding Australians.
