NSW Police ban social media, messaging apps on police devices
The recently announced ban was recommended following an investigation into allegations of misconduct surrounding a May car crash involving a drunken police officer.
The New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) has announced a blanket ban on all non-SMS messaging apps and social media platforms on police-issued devices.
“NSW Police have introduced security software that provides secure access to approved NSWPF systems and applications for all users,” a NSWPF spokesperson said.
“Once this software is installed, social media and other personal applications will not work and cannot be downloaded on NSWPF-issued devices.”
The ban follows a recommendation from the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) to the NSW Police Commissioner in July 2024 to “provide direction to its officers on the use of encrypted applications and the removal of messages from telephones issued by the police.
The recommendation was one of several made by the LECC following an inquiry into police conduct following a car crash involving a senior NSW Police officer and a unmarked police car in May.
LECC received several complaints regarding the initial investigation into the incident and a subsequent insurance claim. The LECC ultimately concluded that the senior officer in question – whose identity remains confidential – had been treated more leniently following the incident and had attempted to avoid taking a breathalyzer test immediately after the accident.
The officer was also “deliberately dishonest” in completing an insurance claim regarding the car crash.
The LECC also found reason to be concerned about the deletion of “work-related emails” from police devices during the accident investigation.
The NSWPF Professional Standards Command is “considering other LECC positions and opinions arising from this same report”.
However, some police are already considering ways to circumvent this ban.
“We communicate with each other, with other investigators who do the same work,” said a police officer. The Daily Telegraph.
The ban “means we’re going to have to get burners now and carry two phones,” the officer said.
