The Growing Importance of Digital Evidence in Law Enforcement

How has the digital age revolutionised the world of law enforcement? With technology advancing at an unprecedented pace, people are living more and more of their lives online and unfortunately criminals, operating without the need to conform to legislation, use technology to enable new methods to conduct their crime. While the digital transformation of policing  has provided numerous benefits such as more effective communication and enhanced tools to support better investigative outcomes, one of the most profound changes is the ever increasing production of digital evidence.

This article explores the growing importance of digital evidence in law enforcement, the challenges it presents, and the strategies required for effective management, referencing insights from the Integrated Justice Information Systems (IJIS) Institute’s whitepaper on the “Analysis of the Law Enforcement Digital Evidence Imagery Lifecycle“.

The IJIS Institute

Established in 2001, the IJIS Institute was created ‘as a response to challenging public and private sector experiences with open communications, operational challenges seeking technical solutions, and procurement barriers.’

The whitepaper which is referenced in this article was created as part of a collaboration between the IJIS Institute and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). 31 members from both organisations contributed to this whitepaper, ranging from Chiefs of Police to leaders of manufacturing and technology companies in the public safety and law enforcement sector.

The Rise of Digital Evidence

Digital evidence covers any information stored or transmitted via electronic devices that can be used in court. This can include data from computers, CCTV, digital cameras, vehicle telematics, router logs and a variety of other devices. According to the whitepaper by the IJIS Institute, the explosion of affordable video technology and the variety of digital devices have significantly increased the sources and types of digital and multimedia evidence (DME) available to law enforcement agencies.

Whilst there is an exponential increase in the use of digital evidence, there will always be an expectation for irrefutable evidence, regardless if it’s digital or physical. However, nowadays, the general public know how easy it is to tamper with digital evidence, using tools which are easily accessible on everyday devices like smartphones and tablets. This ultimately has an underlying impact on the credibility of digital evidence, unless it’s chain of custody (evidential integrity through documented, controlled transfer) can be proven.

Challenges in Managing Digital Evidence

Despite its potential, managing digital evidence poses several challenges. The IJIS whitepaper highlights the primary issues, including the complexity of maintaining the chain of custody, the risk of data corruption or loss from physical media, and the difficulties in ensuring effective contact between various systems and departments.

1. Chain of Custody

Ensuring a secure and verifiable chain of custody for digital evidence is critical. Like physical evidence, digital evidence can be easily altered, copied, or deleted if not properly managed and stored correctly. This has led the World Economic Forum to state that digital disinformation is the most severe global risk in the short term at a geo-political level. Reflecting this analysis at a law enforcement level, the IJIS whitepaper emphasises the importance of implementing standards and security measures to preserve the integrity of digital evidence throughout its lifecycle so that manipulated digital evidence cannot be used to pervert the course of justice.

2. Data Corruption and Loss from Physical Media

Although large amounts of data can be stored on physical media like SD cards, USBs and CDs, they can be prone to corruption, can be easily misplaced and can take hours to locate evidence if stored incorrectly. As well as this, by using different mediums for storage, this could lead to poor file management, not in accordance with data legislation.

3. Effective Contact

As well as poor file management, different law enforcement agencies and stakeholders often use several systems for managing digital evidence. This can lead to inefficiencies and errors in the evidence management process. The IJIS whitepaper calls for greater collaboration and standardisation across the criminal justice system to ensure seamless integration and transfer of digital evidence.

Strategies for Effective Management

To address these challenges, law enforcement agencies should adopt strategies for managing digital evidence. These strategies should involve the entire lifecycle of digital evidence, from collection to distribution.

1. Standardised Procedures

Developing and adhering to standardised procedures for the collection, storage, and handling of digital evidence is key. This includes clear guidelines for maintaining the chain of custody, documenting the evidence trail, and ensuring data integrity.

2. Technological Solutions

Utilising advanced technological solutions can enhance the efficiency and security of digital evidence management. This includes using encrypted storage devices, secure cloud-based platforms, and automated systems for tracking and managing evidence. The adoption of body-worn cameras (BWC) and other digital recording devices by law enforcement agencies also demands secure infrastructure to manage the resulting data.

3. Training and Awareness

Continuous training and awareness programmes for law enforcement personnel are essential to keep them updated on best practices and emerging trends in digital evidence management. The IJIS whitepaper emphasises the need for ongoing education to ensure that everyone in involved understands their roles and responsibilities in handling digital evidence.

4. Collaboration and Integration

Encouraging collaboration between different agencies and personnel can improve the overall management of digital evidence. This can include establishing joint protocols, sharing best practices, and investing in systems that facilitate the smooth exchange of information. The IJIS Institute’s whitepaper highlights the importance of such collaborations in creating a more efficient and effective criminal justice system.

The Role of Mea Digital Evidence Integrity

In light of these challenges and strategies, tools like MeaFuse and MeaConnexus play a vital role in modernising the management of digital evidence.

MeaFuse is a digital chain of custody from your existing devices, providing a seamless way to capture, store and share digital evidence throughout its lifecycle, at the fraction of the cost of BWCs or camera equipment like DSLRs.

MeaConnexus offers a comprehensive solution that integrates various aspects of the interview process into a virtual, user-friendly, remote video interview platform. This includes high quality audio and video, secure storage, seamless sharing, and audit trails that ensure the integrity and availability of digital evidence throughout its lifecycle.

Both tools are designed to meet the needs of law enforcement agencies, capable of ensuring evidential integrity. As soon as evidence is captured, the contents are stored securely in the Blockchain, providing a tamper evident seal which if broken, is made immediately apparent to those validating the evidence.

The growing importance of digital evidence in law enforcement highlights the need for effective management strategies. By adopting standardised procedures, advanced technologies, continuous training and collaboration, law enforcement agencies can begin to overcome the challenges associated with digital evidence. Solutions like MeaFuse and MeaConnexus offer the necessary tools to support these efforts, ensuring that digital evidence is managed efficiently and securely, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the criminal justice system.

Get in touch today to schedule a free demonstration, and to discuss how the tools can be utilised in your organisation.