Sussex Police have been slammed for recording phone calls from victims, witnesses and potential criminals without their knowledge.

Staff members from the force were given access to an app on their work phones which automatically saved and recorded phone conversations since 2016.

Alongside Surrey Police, the Information Commissioner’s Office estimated that more than 200,000 phone conversations were recorded by more than 1,000 members of staff across the two forces.

Stephen Bonner, deputy commissioner of the ICO, said: “Sussex Police and Surrey Police failed to use people’s personal data lawfully by recording hundreds of thousands of phone calls without their knowledge.

“People have the right to expect that when they speak to a police officer, the information they disclose is handled responsibly.

“We can only estimate the huge amount of personal data collected during these conversations, including highly sensitive information relating to suspected crimes.

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“This case should be a lesson learned to any organisation planning to introduce an app, product or service that uses people’s personal data.

“Organisations must consider people’s data protection rights and implement data protection principles from the very start.”

In an official reprimand of the force, it was found that no training was given to staff on how to use the app compliantly and no adequate risk assessment was taken.

The app used has since been withdrawn from use, with the ICO deciding not to impose a £1 million fine on the force.

Sussex Police have been approached for comment.