Question reference: S6W-01745
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 22 July 2021
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Current status: Answered by Keith Brown on 10 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the backlog of digital items in Police Scotland’s possession that are currently awaiting forensic analysis.
Answer
The forensic analysis of digital items and the management of any backlog are matters for the Chief Constable and Police Scotland.
Police Scotland are committed to providing the best possible service to the victims of crime and witnesses and will 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. The number of digital items in Police Scotland’s possession currently awaiting forensic analysis demonstrates the importance of examination of digital devices for modern criminal investigations. Police Scotland recognises the demand in this complex area and consideration is being given to investment in additional staffing, technology and partnerships in order to enhance their existing capabilities in this area.
Police Scotland’s recently published Cyber Strategy and ongoing strategic Cyber Capabilities Project is evidence of their prioritisation of cyber related demand.
Police Scotland are using their internal management information, detailing how many Cyber Kiosk examinations have been progressed in the previous month, to assist in identifying areas for improvement and to enable them to move forward in this complex area.