Britain’s police forces are ineffective in their handling of digital forensics, causing “unacceptable” delays and exposing victims to “unnecessary risks,” a police watchdog has said.
In its latest report, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) examined how effective the police are at capturing evidence from digital devices, including smartphones and computers.
Inspectors from the service concluded that UK police forces do not have a clear understanding of digital forensics and are overwhelmed with a backlog of more than 25,000 devices waiting to be examined.
They found that this has led to huge delays in examining electronic devices, with knock-on effects on the prosecutions of offenders and the well-being of victims….