POLICE forces are shining a light on how they use communications data to locate criminals and solve crimes.

We do not, and cannot, ‘snoop’ on the public. We use #CommsData to protect the public and to investigate crime

— Durham Constabulary (@DurhamPolice) June 30, 2016

Four forces – Durham, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire – are taking part in a 24-hour ‘Tweetathon’ on Thursday, June 30 to demonstrate how they are using technology to bring offenders to justice.

Every #CommsData request must be shown to be necessary & proportionate. If not we can’t see it

— Durham Constabulary (@DurhamPolice) June 30, 2016

Under the current Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, forces can complete telecommunications checks for volume crime, such as frauds, harassments, burglaries, robberies or thefts.

There are 36,600 organised criminals in 5,300 organised crime groups currently operating in ways that directly affect the UK #CommsData

— Lincolnshire Police (@lincspolice) June 30, 2016

Communications data is the ‘who’, ‘when’, and ‘where’ of a communication, not what is written or said. It is details of the communication – not the content.

Police forces use it at the early stages of investigations to prove or disprove where a person was, or determine who they were with or who they spoke to. This information is invaluable in proving guilt as well as innocence.

Here are some of the best Tweets so far.

Durham Police used comms data to locate suspects at the scene of a stolen van.

#CommsData used to place suspects at the scene of the theft of a delivery van

— Durham Constabulary (@DurhamPolice) June 30, 2016

Data was then used to track suspect who posted incident image on victims social media profile.

#CommsData used to trace suspect who posted indecent images on victim’s social media account and harassed them

— Glos Police (@Glos_Police) June 30, 2016

Police then used comms data to trace a suspect selling counterfeit money on social media.

Counterfeit currency sold on social media site. #CommsData used to identify data

— Glos Police (@Glos_Police) June 30, 2016

Burglary suspected linked to mobile phone thefts

#CommsData linked offenders to burglary in which three mobile were taken

— Glos Police (@Glos_Police) June 30, 2016

Data used to ID suspect who had been targeting an online child

#CommsData used to ID suspect who was targeting a child online. User details, where they logged on, tel no/email address linked to account

— Durham Constabulary (@DurhamPolice) June 30, 2016

Data used to arrest suspect who is believed to have stolen X Box.

Example 7: Suspect charged after #CommsData traced stolen X-box was being used online

— Lincolnshire Police (@lincspolice) June 30, 2016

999 calls made to ex-partners address result in CPS charge

Example 6: Suspect charged after #CommsData linked them to malicious 999 calls made to former partner’s home

— Lincolnshire Police (@lincspolice) June 30, 2016

Rogue trader who defrauded elderly couple arrested as a result of comms data.

Rogue trader who defrauded elderly out of thousands found via call data #CommsData

— Glos Police (@Glos_Police) June 30, 2016

Comms Data used as evidence to show a registered sex offender was breaching his conditions.

#CommsData used to show registered sex offender was breaching conditions by using Wi-Fi and copious internet sessions

— Glos Police (@Glos_Police) July 1, 2016

Used to aid a burglary investigation, letting the police know when the consoles stolen were then connected to the internet.

#CommsData helped burglary investigation where games consoles were stolen. Data identified when consoles were connected to the internet

— Glos Police (@Glos_Police) July 1, 2016

Allowed police to trace a suspect who posted indecent images onto social media.

#CommsData helped trace suspect believed to have posted indecent images on social media site

— Glos Police (@Glos_Police) July 1, 2016

Police used the IP Address used to access social media to trace the address of the suspect.

#CommsData obtained from social media account identified the IP address used in harassment case

— Glos Police (@Glos_Police) June 30, 2016