The data includes call history, texts and contacts, and the
BBC has learned that it will be retained regardless of whether any
charges are brought.
The technology is being used in 16 London boroughs, and could potentially be used by police across the UK.
Campaign group Privacy International described the move as a "possible breach of human rights law".
Until now, officers had to send mobiles off for forensic
examination in order to gather and store data, a process which took
several weeks.
Under the new system, content will be extracted using purpose built terminals in police stations.
It will allow officers to connect a suspect's mobile and
produce a print out of data from the device, as well as saving digital
records of the content.
'Retained and handled'
A Met Police spokesman told the BBC that when a
suspect was released, "data received from the handsets is retained and
handled in accordance with other data held by the MPS [Metropolitan
Police Service]" - regardless of whether charges had been brought.
Guidelines given to officers state that data extraction can
happen only if there is sufficient suspicion the mobile phone was used
for criminal activity.
"Mobile phones and other devices are increasingly being used
in all levels of criminal activity," said Stephen Kavanagh, Deputy
Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service.
"When a suspect is arrested and found with a mobile phone
that we suspect may have been used in crime, traditionally we submit it
to our digital forensic laboratory for analysis.
"Therefore, a solution located within the boroughs that
enables trained officers to examine devices and gives immediate access
to the data in that handset is welcomed."
'Illegal'
Over 300 London officers will be trained in using the
"intuitive, fully-guided touchscreen desktop data acquisition tool",
created by mobile forensic firm Radio Tactics.
The cost of leasing the 16 terminals for 12 months and training the officers will be £50,000, the Met said.
Privacy International has expressed serious concern over the system.
"We are looking at a possible breach of human rights law," spokeswoman Emma Draper told the BBC.
"It is illegal to indefinitely retain the DNA profiles of
individuals after they are acquitted or released without charge, and the
communications, photos and location data contained in most people's
smartphones is at least as valuable and as personal as DNA."
Ms Draper added that while the Met's current plans were
limited to fixed extraction terminals in stations, portable technology
was readily available.
"Examining suspects' mobile phones after they are arrested is
one thing, but if this technology was to be taken out onto the streets
and used in stop-and-searches, that would be a significant and
disturbing expansion of police powers."
source : bbc.co.uk
