A police inquiry has started into Google and some of the search engine giant's workers for gathering private information concerning Australians whilst they clicked streets.

On Sunday, Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland disclosed that he had turned the case to the Australian Federal Police.

The examination links to whether or not Google workers acted unlawfully in getting private data from person's wireless internet connections whilst capturing photos for its Google Maps website.

Mr. McClelland told journalists that in view of concerns having been voiced by the masses, his department deemed that there were questions on material, which were lifted that need police exploration.

He said, "I note there has been some complaints voiced, and understandably voiced, by the public in respect to practices that have been reported involving allegations that some information may have been obtained by staff of Google travelling around streets”.

He added that on Friday, the Attorney-General's department did pass on those charges and reports to the Australian Federal Police.

McClelland said they relayed in substantial part to possible breaches of the telecommunications interceptions act, which prevents people accessing electronic communications other than for authorized purposes.

Meanwhile, Google has made an apology, saying that it gathered the information by mistake.

Last month, Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, who stood next to Mr. McClelland on Sunday, assaulted Google over the assertions, alleging it of being accountable for the "single greatest breach in the history of privacy”.