Three wrongly accused over child abuse images after BT wiring error
Summary
Three people were wrongly accused of downloading child abuse images because of a mistake in broadband wiring by a BT engineer. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal found the error was due to a technical fault, not police misconduct. The real offender was later identified and prosecuted.Key Facts
- A wiring mistake by BT linked internet activity of an actual offender to the wrong address.
- The error affected two men and a woman, leading to police searches and device seizures.
- The Investigatory Powers Tribunal ruled that the police acted lawfully in the investigation.
- The wrongly accused individuals faced personal and professional consequences, such as job-related issues and family concerns.
- BT admitted that wires accidentally crossed, causing the misidentification of the real IP address.
- The three people affected were not charged, and the genuine offender was eventually prosecuted.
- The police spokesperson acknowledged the distress caused and stated the police acted legally.
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