Kent Police are pursuing a number of leads following a burglary
at Sevenoaks-based
Forensic Telecommunications
Services (FTS) in which a server containing data on suspicious
telephone calls over the past two years was stolen.
A police spokeswoman said, "The computer equipment contained
evidence relating to telephone use linked to around 250 cases from
police forces and law enforcement agencies across the UK, covering
the last two years.
She declined to say whether the data was encrypted.
Acting chief constable, Adrian Leppard, said, "We are keeping an
open mind at this stage as to the motive behind the burglary.
However, we and the company have informed other police forces."
FTS provides evidence on telephone use for police forces, the
Crown Prosecution Service and
Customs and Revenue in connection with their
investigations.
"Our understanding is that almost all information on the stolen
computer equipment relates to cases where the evidence has already
been disclosed to defence solicitors. No evidence has been lost, as
the company keeps back-ups," Leppard said.
A spokesman for FTS declined to provide any details beyond a
prepared
statement.
However, a Mail on Sunday
report said the cases were related to counter-terrorism
investigations.
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