Danish police stopped from using telecommunications data

Source: Xinhua| 2019-08-20 18:54:47|Editor: ZX
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COPENHAGEN, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Attorney General has temporarily stopped the use of telecommunications data in criminal proceedings in Denmark.

The decision came on Monday after the National Police notified the Ministry of Justice that there may be errors in the information police acquired from telephone towers.

Danish Police have been able to use telephone masts location to make a probable supposition where in the country a phone was being used. In many lawsuits, such evidence was used as part of the burden of proof.

In a further admission, the National Police also disclosed to the Attorney Generals office that several additional errors have been found in raw data that the police received from telecommunications companies.

Social Democrat Justice Minister Nick Hekkerup welcomed the decision by the Attorney General.

"It is a step that is very far-reaching, but which we take into account for legal certainty because we must all be sure that we do not have a situation where innocents are convicted."

As a consequence of the Attorney General's decision, 10,700 serious criminal cases will now be reviewed.

The scandal has been responsible for a change of leadership within the management of the National Police.

Police Director John Vestergaard, in charge of the department responsible for misusing telecommunications data, has been removed from his post and replaced by Police Director Lene Frank.

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