Correspondence from DS Kevin Southworth
to the Committee (COR8)
Further to our telephone conversation, I understand
that representatives of the various mobile phone Service Providers
have been invited to give evidence to the Home Affairs Committee
next week in relation to what they did following the launch of
the Metropolitan Police Service's investigation which led to the
conviction of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire.
From a very early stage, the investigation team were
in close contact with, and had co-operation from, all the main
Service Providers. Some were able to provide us with greater technical
assistance than others. Contact with the companies themselves
was complemented throughout by the well established mechanisms
of the Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum (MICAF) and its Chair.
The Chair's role is recognised as the primary interface between
the police and the mobile phone companies in relation to any crime
matter.
On the 8 August 2006, following the arrest of Goodman
and Mulcaire, the Chair of MICAF attended a meeting at New Scotland
Yard at which the Deputy Senior Investigating Officer provided
a briefing and next steps were discussed. An email sent on that
date from the Chair to the various mobile phone companies is attached
which highlights the partnership approach that was being taken.
In July 2009 and again in October 2010, the MPS contacted
the relevant mobile phone Service Providers to gain further reassurance
as to what steps the mobile phone companies took at the time of
the original investigation. Please find attached also a copy of
our latest letter dated October 2010 and copies of the responses
provided by the three main Service Providers at each juncture.
10 June 2011
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