Data retention inquiry: Victorian police defend regular access to phone, internet records

Updated

Victorian police have defended their frequent access to private phone and internet records, arguing crimes like the murder of Melbourne woman Jill Meagher would not have been solved otherwise.

Figures provided in a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the Federal Government's controversial data retention bill show Victoria Police sought access almost 63,000 times in 2013/14 - equating to 1,200 requests per week.

The metadata, which includes the time and location of a phone call, can be accessed with the authorisation of a senior officer or official, without the need for a warrant.

The Secretary of the Victorian Police Association, Ron Iddles, said the number of requests currently being made by Victoria Police officers was reasonable, equating to about one per detective per week.

"Without that information, some of the serious crimes wouldn't be solved and in particular the case of Jill Meagher would not have been solved without this data," Mr Iddles said.

If the public don't want us to have it then the crime solvability rate will definitely go down.

"We were able to track a particular phone which was contrary to the account which was given by the accused.

"We were able to track Jill Meagher's phone through this data to where her location was, to where she was buried, and show that only one phone came back.

"If the public don't want us to have it then the crime solvability rate will definitely go down."

The Abbott Government has tabled legislation that would compel telecommunication companies and internet service providers to store metadata for two years.

It argues the laws would be a vital safeguard against terrorism and other crimes.

Mr Iddles said he supports the introduction of the laws.

"The more and more data that there is, there is a storage issue," he said.

"Sometimes they only keep the data for two weeks, it is about ensuring the data is kept longer in case it is required."

Topics: police, information-and-communication, federal-government, vic

First posted