Family's frustration as search for missing student Jack O'Sullivan hits another stumbling block
The search for missing student Jack O'Sullivan has hit another stumbling block as police tell his family they are unable to help analyse his phone records.
Mother Catherine O'Sullivan earlier this month was left 'thrilled' when she finally won a long battle to get hold of her son's phone data from EE.
She hoped it would unlock vital clues of her missing 23-year-old son's last movements, but now officers have told the family they can't 'legally share' data from Jack's phone.
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.
But due to the length of time taken, the family fear the new RF survey won't be as accurate as the one the police have already done but are refusing to share, the family fear.
Catherine O'Sullivan (left) believes the mobile phone data could unlock the mystery of what happened to her son Jack (right)
The University of Exeter graduate, who had moved back to Bristol for the law course, went to a party on Hotwell Road, but at one point tumbled down the stairs and hit his head
Jack O'Sullivan graduated from the University of Exeter and returned to Bristol for a law conversion
Jack's last known movements have been retraced by his mum in a video posted to Facebook
Jack vanished without trace after being last seen at 3.15am on Saturday March 2 in the area of Brunel Lock Road/Brunel Way, in Bristol.
A spokesperson for the Find Jack Facebook group wrote: 'In order for 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.'
The post also highlighted comments from a leading forensics company about RF surveys and timings, which said: '*.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'.'
The spokesperson for the group added: 'We are seven months later. So we have to wait. Again.'
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.
Avon and Somerset Police 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.
Jack, 23, was last seen at 3.15am on Saturday, March 2 in the area of Brunel Lock Road/Brunel Way, in Bristol
Jack O'Sullivan (centre) is pictured graduating with his parents Catherine (front) and Alan (right) and brother Ben (left)
Jack's phone sent its final GPS signal from an address in the nearby Granby Hill area at 6.44am
'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.'
Catherine said earlier this week that she will 'not give up' until she gets answers.
She wrote on the Find Jack 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.
'Please, 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 [email protected].'
The University of Exeter graduate, who had moved back to Bristol for the law course, went to a party on Hotwell Road, but at one point tumbled down the stairs and hit his head.
When a random partygoer joked about him having too much to drink, Jack shoved him in a brief clash, but this did not go further.
Jack texted his mum at 1.52am to say he was safe and planned to get a taxi and left the party an hour later, without saying goodbye to his female friend who was having a cigarette outside. He never returned home and has been missing for seven months.
