The family of Bristol student Jack O’Sullivan, including mother Catherine, have had to face another problem in the hunt for the 23-year-old after police refused to share his phone data
The family of a young man at the centre of a missing person investigation have become frustrated after another delay in trying to find out what happened to him.
Catherine O’Sullivan has been worried sick since her 23-year-old son Jack vanished on March 2 in Bristol. He was last seen in the area of Brunel Lock Road and Brunely Way at around 3.15am.
After a long few months, Mrs O’Sullivan thought she was finally going to be able to check her son’s phone data after a long battle of trying to get hold of it. However, the mum, who was “thrilled” to finally be making some progress, was dealt a massive blow when police said they couldn’t analyse his phone records or legally give them the data from EE.
The worrying parent thought it may hold a clue to what the young man’s final movements were before his disappearance. Catherine is now having to commission the family’s own forensic specialists to carry out a radio frequency survey (RF) to investigate any clues the phone data might reveal.
However, because of how long it has been, the family fear the survey won’t be very accurate, or as accurate as the police one which has already been completed, MailOnline reports. A spokesman for the Find Jack Facebook group wrote: “In order to us to be able to attempt to track Jack’s route, we need an RF survey.
“This is the practice of measuring cellular and wifi radio transmissions and matching them against call data to help determine where a mobile phone or wifi-enabled device was located at a particular time. We know Avon & Somerset (police) did an RF survey and so Jack’s family asked for it to help the analysis. They were refused.
“Because they don’t want to have the battle, they have commissioned the forensics company to perform one which takes valuable time. That’s why we have nothing to report. It’s also worth adding that it is far better to have the police version as it is likely to be more accurate than one performed now.”
One leading forensics company commented on the post about RF surveys and timings saying: “Hugely important to gather survey measurements as close to the time of significance as possible to avoid the loss of the evidence. The evidence at this point is the picture of coverage each network provides to your significant location, which may, if left too long, change a few months later.”
Avon and Somerset Police said the surveys it conducted didn’t shed any new light on what may have happened to Jack and they were legally blocked from sharing data. A spokesman added: “Officers have conducted an in-depth analysis of Jack’s phone use and data movements after his last confirmed sighting, this has included receiving information from Jack’s phone provider. Unfortunately, this information has not taken us any further in our bid to locate Jack. In August, we received a request from the Jack’s family requesting a copy of the data.
“Unfortunately, due to the strict handling and retention requirements laid out in Home Office Communications Data Code of Practice, which applies to data obtained under section 60A of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, as well as GDPR and Data Protection, we have been unable to fulfil this request as the law does not allow us to share it. By disclosing this data to a third party, officers would be unable to comply with the requirements set out in law, including having no control over how it is stored, if it is shared beyond the agreed parameters and if it is retained beyond the legally permitted time period. The information also holds private data belonging to other members of the public.”
Jack’s mum Catherine has vowed not to give up until she gets answers. She wrote on the Facebook page: ” Jack is one of the most important things in my life and I will not give up until I get an answer. We have no support from the authorities that should be helping so it’s totally down to our family, friends and the public to keep up the fight. lease, please continue to share our plea of help to find Jack. Many thanks, Catherine (and all at team Jack) Any information can be sent to -findjack23@gmail.com.”
On the night before he was last seen, the Bristol student met with three friends for a night out and travelled from his village of Flax Bourton to a Wetherspoons in the city centre. At around 10.45pm he text his mother that they headed to a house party in Hotwells. Just before 2am, he again text his mother that he was safe and getting in an Uber. However, while at the party, Jack fell down the stairs and hit his head, shoving a partygoer who made fun of him. He left the party just after 3am and hasn’t been seen since.
Police have footage of a person, who could be Jack, walking along the Bennett Way slip road at 3.38am and the youngster attempted to call a female friend who was still at the party at 3.24am. When the friend called back 10 minutes later, Jack answered but only said ‘hello’ before the call cut off. His phone remained active on Find My Friends until 6.44am. It last pinged on Granby Hill. Jack is described as white, about 5ft 10ins (178cm) tall, of slim build and with short, brown hair.
