Phone tapping law has loophole

Mon, 14 Jun 2010

Criminal convictions secured on phone tapping evidence could be challenged after an administrative oversight in telecommunications legislation.

At this month's sitting of Tynwald, starting tomorrow, Chief Minister Tony Brown will move the Public Telecommunications System Designation Order.

The move is necessary to allow warrants to be issued to allow law enforcement agencies to tap phones as part of their investigations.

No such order has been in place since Manx Telecom was issued with its licence in November 2003, meaning the legality of warrants issued in this time is questionable.

The Attorney General brought up the matter in the Legislative Council last month whilst debating the International and Organised Crime Bill.

Energy FM has contacted a number of Government Officials, including the Attorney General's Office, all of whom have declined to comment.