The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC ) have today released their Joint Inquiry into Police conduct when photographing members of the public. The report has found that a general lack of awareness amongst Police of their obligations under the Privacy Act has led to officers routinely taking, using and retaining photographs when it is not lawful for them to do so. It also found that thousands of photographs of members of the public have been kept on the mobile phones of individual officers or, if transferred to the Police computer system, not destroyed after there is no longer a legitimate need for them.
Public Report (PDF 2.86 KB) Media Statement