Digital Devices - 208/20

Date Responded 02 March 2020

Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')

As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of access to information held at the time of a request, by a Public Authority (including the Police), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.

You asked:

  1. The number of digital devices that are awaiting forensic examination.
  2. The estimated time that it would take to examine these devices and clear the backlog.
  3. Could you also please let me know which recorded offences the devices are linked to, eg sexual offences, indecent images of a child etc.

In Response:

Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted with the Crime Department of Northumbria Police.  I can confirm that the information you have requested is held in part by Northumbria Police.

  1. As at 5 February 2020, 1345 devices currently await examination
  2. No information held.  This is not recorded.
  3. Currently the exhibits relate to the following crime types:
  • Sexual Offences          
  • Blackmail                               
  • Breach of SHPO                   
  • Computer Misuse                  
  • Conspiracy                             
  • Child Sexual Exploitation                              
  • Drugs Offences                     
  • Firearms Offences                
  • Fraud                                      
  • Robbery                                 
  • Wildlife Offences

Disclaimer

Due to the different methods of recording information across 43 forces, a specific response from one constabulary should not be seen as an indication of what information could be supplied (within cost) by another. Systems used for recording these figures are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. For this reason responses between forces may differ, and should not be used for comparative purposes.

The information we have supplied to you is likely to contain intellectual property rights of Northumbria Police. Your use of the information must be strictly in accordance with the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) or such other applicable legislation. In particular, you must not re-use this information for any commercial purpose.

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