Well let's see....someone reports a car as stolen but...
- they have no evidence they ever had a car
- bank records do not show evidence of any purchases of a car or insurance
- registration records do not support the person had a car registered to them
The yes the police will probably start investigating them for fraud as they do many of thousands of times are year, and they may well seek forensic computer evidence.
Whilst this law was born out of issues in recent false rape instances and it's intention is with that in mind. You raise a fair point, though I'm sure that use will not transpire - what guarantees does it give that it could be for any reason. Heck, budget cuts, i'd not be supprised if some local regional force mandate its usage just to reduce crime reports, gaming the stats just enough so that can keep their jobs and pension ticking over.
Often when children go missing the parents are responsible or complicit in some way. People write things down all the time -- a google account may contain incriminating emails, IM messages, or other documents such as journal entries.
I'm squicked out about the invasion like many are, and if I thought about it carefully I expect I would come out against the idea, but I can actually see the case for this invasion.
> Often when children go missing the parents are responsible or complicit in some way.
In that case, they are being investigated as suspects and should obtain all of the due process that suspects are afforded under the law. Reasonable suspicion, warrants, etc. should all be obtained - not "we won't investigate the crime unless you surrender your rights and permit us to investigate you as a suspect without warrant or cause."
