Report Summary
This report provides members of the Forensic Services Committee with an overview of Digital Forensics – Next Steps and Timeline for Progression.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Forensic Services Committee - 30 October 2025
Date : 30 October 2025
Location : Online
Strategic alignment to strategic police plan and other key enabling strategies
Chief Constable’s 2030 Vision:
• Safer Communities
• Less Crime
• Supported Victims
• Thriving Workforce
The proposal is built around the four pillars of the Chief Constable’s 2030 Vision:
Safer Communities: Slow manual data transfer risks delay and loss of evidence, disclosure breaches, and growing laboratory workloads. Modern data management and automated processes ensures timely, secure sharing, upholds fairness, and protects reputation. Efficient digital handling strengthens public trust and demonstrates a professional, victim-focused approach which reduces opportunity and for cases to fail due to procedural errors. The proposed three-tier approach demonstrates a modern, professional, victim-focused approach to policing and enhances inter-agency collaboration, improving outcomes and the perception of joined-up justice.
Less crime: Manual disc transfers are slow, unreliable and costly, especially across Scotland’s remote areas where transport and weather cause delays. Investing in remote data management enables instant evidence access and coupled with introduction of updated kiosk capability enables faster case progression, and better use of police time.
Supported Victims: Delays caused by manual sharing of evidence can prolong distress for victims awaiting justice or updates on case progress. Witnesses may also have to attend court or give multiple statements due to delays or lost data, causing frustration or reduced cooperation. Remote data management and updated kiosk capability supports trauma-informed practice by reducing unnecessary repetition and delay.
Thriving Workforce: Digital Forensics demand has increased year on year and is now at a critical point in terms of servicing that demand. A Digital Forensics data management capability would create numerous efficiencies within PSoS and enable a thriving workforce. DF staff welfare will be significantly improved by reducing the manual workload, ensuring the safe sharing of digital evidence, and the encouragement a more positive work environment. By automating repetitive manual tasks involved in providing data for review purposes onto different removeable media formats and streamlining those workflows, analysts can focus on more complex case work which will lead to increased job satisfaction and reduced stress.
