CCL offers solution to police backlog in digital forensic investigations

A proactive response to the recent BBC 5 Live Radio show ‘5 Live Investigates’ regarding the backlog in Digital Forensic investigations.

Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire, UK : 26th November 2015 : CCL Solutions Group Ltd, parent for CCL Forensics, the UK’s largest digital forensics provider would like to offer a proactive solution to the a number of recent news reports emanating from the BBC 5 Live Radio show ‘5 Live Investigates’ regarding the backlog in digital forensic investigations.

The thrust of this programme, broadcast on 8th November, was the backlog of digital-crime investigations within the Police. It raised understandable concerns that this backlog was potentially leaving suspects and victims in a state of limbo, whereby victims may remain vulnerable and suspects are free to continue their pursuits.

As the UKs largest digital forensics laboratory CCL feels that it can provide some necessary insight and thought leadership into how, through a collaborate effort between the Police, industry partners and the effective utilistion of investigative technology, this challenging situation can be sustainably addressed.

Changes In Crime and Criminal Use Of Technology

By all measures digital-crime and the use of technology by criminals has increased at an unprecedented rate. There is a digital element in most crimes, all of which have to be investigated to complement and support more traditional investigation techniques.

The content of the BBC investigation focused on the backlog of digital investigations into suspected child exploitation cases. However, technology is used as the primary tool to facilitate many criminal activities: fraud, theft, harassment and more. CCL has used its extensive experience to assist Police on a number of these cases which has provided valuable knowledge on how the investigation process can be truncated, aiding Police and more importantly, ensuring that suspects are swiftly brought to justice, allowing victims to gain an element of closure and move on with their lives.

The CCL Ethos

CCL has adopted the ethos of using the wide range of investigative technology to develop processes that automate and expedite investigation times. This is coupled with ensuring that the investigating officers’, or the forensic analysts’, exposure to harrowing images is minimised.

When the ‘off the shelf tools’ do not have the capability to obtain potentially critical evidence CCL undertakes its own internal research and development to extract what is needed in order to ensure that no data is overlooked.

Finding a silver bullet for the challenges of the digital investigations and digital forensics backlog is unlikely, however CCL believes that working in collaboration with Chief Constables & investigative technology providers verifiable improvements to investigation times can be obtained.

Invitation To Collaborate

With this in mind CCL extends an open invitation to Police Forces to join them in discussions on how this illustrated backlog can be reduced and how refined digital investigative process can be implemented across the country to swiftly remove these criminals and their activity from the UK streets.

Interested parties should contact Jon Blows, Chief Executive CCL directly on 01789 261200