Requests from ACT Policing to record, watch or track people, as well as monitor their computer data, reached a four-year high in the past year, but didn't lead to more arrests.
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According to the AFP Surveillance Devices annual report, in 2013-14 there were 38 requests made by ACT Policing for a range of surveillance devices, resulting in seven arrests and four prosecutions.
Comparatively, in the previous year there were 13 requests for surveillance devices made by police leading to a separate seven arrests and four prosecutions.
Four years ago, police only asked for three warrants to perform surveillance which still resulted in five arrests.
Of the 38 requests for warrants and surveillance extensions by ACT Policing, not a single one was rejected by the courts.
A spokesman for ACT Policing said they only applied for warrants as necessary and where there might be additional information to be gained from their use.
The majority of warrants requested by ACT Policing in the past year related to drug trafficking, with 16 warrants linked those investigations.
For example, on August 8, 2013 acting justice John Nield issued a warrant to ACT Policing to use data, optical, tracking and listening devices to investigate trafficking in a controlled drug.
The warrant was issued for 90 days, but not enough evidence was gained from the surveillance devices to enable an arrest or successful prosecution.
Another 11 warrants were issued for investigations into the growing and cultivation of cannabis, possibly relating to ACT Policing's massive $2.5 million drug haul in a series of raids in April.
Finally another eight warrants were related to murder investigations, reflecting the two prominent January murder cases in Canberra of Lyneham-resident Nicholas Sofer-Schreiber and Phillip-resident Miodrag Gajic.
In the murder investigations police requested warrants for tracking devices, listening devices, optical surveillance devices and data surveillance devices.
Almost a third of the total warrants requested by ACT Policing were never used, with 13 of the 38 requests not executed.
A spokesman for ACT Policing said they only requested warrants for investigations when it was necessary.
"ACT Policing applies for surveillance device warrants as necessary, when pertinent information could be gained in relation to an investigation," he said.
"The complexity of the investigation will dictate the use of surveillance device warrants."
