NSW Police block encrypted apps on issued devices

The NSW Police Force has implemented “security software” that blocks the use of social media and other personal apps on corporate-issued devices.

The police force confirmed in a statement to iTnews that it “has introduced security software that provides secured access to approved NSW Police Force systems and applications for all users.”

“With this software installed, social media and other personal apps will not work or be downloadable to NSW Police Force-issued devices,” it said.

The blocks were initiated after the findings of a Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) investigation in July into a crash in Sydney’s NorthConnex involving an unmarked police car.

During evidence, it was found that police officers were using “encrypted applications” but “had adopted the practice of deleting messages, records of messages and calls” from them periodically.

While not a core part of its inquiry, the LECC asked the commissioner of Police to “consider whether the practice of (automatically) deleting work-related electronic messages is consistent with the provisions of the statutory regime dealing with record retention and issue guidance to her officers on the use of encrypted applications and the deletion of messages from police issued phones.”

That guidance has now come in the form of application usage restrictions.

NSW Police said that its Professional Standards Command is “also currently reviewing other LECC positions and opinions from that same report.”