[adrianN]

Once you set up the technology that enables this kind of police work, laws rarely suffice to stop its use.

[DanBC]

No one has set up the technology that allows this, which is why the police had to break the law and use hackers outside the country to do this.

The police had legal surveillance powers available to them, but chose not to use them.

Now they face both disciplinary action and criminal prosecution; and the victims can sue for damages.