NPIA pilot scheme will help police gather vital evidence

 

A more efficient way for the police to forensically examine computers and devices such as mobile phones is being tested by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA).

The NPIA has set up a central electronic forensics unit in Nottingham providing a single management system to help police officers prioritise cases.

Every year hundreds of computers and other communications devices are seized by the police as computer crime increases.

Every force now has a backlog of these devices waiting to be examined in order to get evidence that can absolve or convict a person of a crime; meaning it can take up to two years before this vital work can be completed in some cases.

The NPIA said: "As computer crime has increased and techniques have become more sophisticated, the demand on technology experts in force Hi-Tech Crime Units (HTCU) to examine electronic devices has grown by 300 per cent over the past seven years."

The current process for police officers to request an examination of a computer or mobile phone varies from force to force. Because information on computers and other devices can often provide crucial evidence in serious investigations, such as distributing child sex images on the internet, homicide, domestic violence and fraud, the examination process has to be thorough.

Yet the length of time it can take to examine electronic devices can be unfair to people innocent of any crime. A case Computeractive recently investigated highlights this issue. A computer used by a whole family was seized by police six months ago because the son was suspected of a crime.

Although the boy has not been arrested and the rest of the family are not involved, their PC is still being held because it has not been examined by the police after six months.

The six-month trial however will allow police officers to ring or email one of the technology experts from the five force HTCUs involved in the pilot (Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire).

They will be able to have their examination requests assessed to ensure that the electronic device is correctly prioritised, such as being given a high, medium or low rating, before being sent to their force HTCU for investigation.

The NPIA said that early signs indicate that the pilot is proving to be very successful.

Simon Bramble, head of Police Science and Forensics at the NPIA said: "This good practice model is helping forces examine more electronic devices faster, increasing the chances of evidence being found that could be used in court to convict more criminals.

"This is another good example of how the NPIA works with the police service to deliver initiatives that provide more for less and help support frontline officers to protect our communities."

When it ends in the new year, the NPIA intends to hold an event to inform all forces of the benefits achieved, lessons learned and the new processes that need to be implemented.