Modern investigations require evidence to be extracted from phones, tablets and computers in around 90 per cent of cases ranging from domestic abuse to serious organised crime.
Modern investigations require evidence to be extracted from phones, tablets and computers in around 90 per cent of cases ranging from domestic abuse to serious organised crime.
But official data shows there are 2691 outstanding electronic forensic requests, alongside 7945 devices awaiting full examination after basic checks.report reveals outdated processes pose “substantial risks”, with hundreds of Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal deadlines missed – raising the risk of cases collapsing.
, said: “Nearly every case we handle now involves a phone or a computer and these devices can hold a vast amount of data which could prove crucial to an investigation.
“We only examine a digital device where there is a legal basis and where it is necessary, justified and proportionate to the incident or crime under investigation.is working on improving the way digital devices are examined to allow for secure, remote viewing in a bid to speed up the process. ” The force operates five digital forensic labs in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, but has said recruitment freezes and staff departures have left them under strength.
The report states that aging processes also have a negative impact on victims, who experience “prolonged distress” as investigations stall and devices pile up in forensic queues. Scottish Conservative justice spokesperson Liam Kerr MSP said: “This is yet another warning sign that Scotland’s justice system is being pushed to breaking point after years of SNP cuts and underfunding.
“The new SNP government must now urgently change course or risk more problems mounting up in the justice system. “The public rightly expect criminals to be caught quickly and victims to see justice delivered without delay, but overstretched officers are being left to battle outdated systems and mounting pressures. ”Senior officers claim modern, automated systems will enable faster, more secure sharing and improve fairness while reducing delays in justice.
The force report also states: “Being able to provide the reporting officer with the ability to review the data when it has been processed immediately allows for investigative avenues to be explored earlier, getting quicker outcomes for victims. ”
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