FOI 507/25 Digital Forensic Analysis

Date: 03/06/25

Enquiry Reference:  507- 25                                                             

I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request. Below is your request and our response.

With respect to multimedia forensic processes, could you please provide me with a copy of the most recent Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), guidance documents, or policy documents held by your force. For clarity, by multimedia forensics I refer specifically to the forensic analysis, enhancement, authentication, interpretation, and presentation of audio, video, and still-image material. This does not include general digital forensics (such as the extraction of data from computers, mobile devices, or other storage media). I am solely concerned with processes dealing directly with audio, video, and image evidence. Specifically, please provide the material requested in the following four bullet points:

1. A copy of the SOPs, guidance documents, or policy documents covering the forensic processing, enhancement, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of audio, video, and image material for investigative or evidential purposes.
2. Any internal multimedia forensic workflows, protocols, or standard practices related to handling such material.
3. The names of software, tools, or systems used for these processes, including any associated training or operational guidance.
4. The quality assurance, validation, or review procedures used to ensure the accuracy, authenticity, and admissibility of multimedia forensic evidence. If the full SOPs or documents cannot be shared, I kindly request the following information in place of the SOP as per the following seven points:
5. A summary or description of the multimedia forensic processes followed.
6. SOP titles, version numbers, and the dates of their creation, last update, and validation/approval.
7. The roles, departments, or individuals responsible for authoring, validating, or approving the SOPs.
8. The legislation, policies, standards, or external guidance referenced during the development and/or review of the SOPs.
9. Whether the SOPs have undergone any ethical review or approval, and details of any such review processes or bodies involved.
10. Whether the SOPs have been externally validated, peer-reviewed, or accredited by any agency, professional body, or external organization.
11. Whether any SOPs are currently under review, have recently been amended, or are scheduled for updates, and the relevant timelines if applicable. In addition to the previous, please provide responses to the following four points regarding the use of emerging technologies:
12. Please detail whether your multimedia forensic unit currently uses or has trialled artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) tools for: o Authentication (e.g., detecting edits, deepfakes, or tampering) o Enhancement (e.g., audio/video/image quality improvement) o Analysis or interpretation (e.g., transcription, object recognition, pattern matching) Note: a simple response is acceptable here such as "Authentication: Use. Enhancement: Trialled. Analysis: Not used"
13. If applicable, the names or vendors of the AI/ML tools used.
14. Whether the use of these tools is governed by any SOPs, internal policies, or ethical guidelines.
15. Whether the adoption and use of AI/ML tools have been subject to ethical review, oversight, or risk assessment, and any details of such reviews or assessments. I understand some content may be subject to exemptions, and I would appreciate any available redacted, summary, or contextual information where full disclosure is not possible.

Answer

The Force is currently undergoing a scope and investment period for the Digital Media Unit. At this stage no procedures, documents, hardware or software have been confirmed as they are all in draft or going through a decision-making process.

If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request, you have the right to request an independent internal review of your case under our review procedure. The Freedom of Information Code of Practice (see below link) states that a request for internal review should be made within 20 working days of the date on this response or 40 working days if extenuating circumstances to account for the delay can be evidenced. Public authorities are not obliged to accept internal reviews after this date.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-code-of-practice

Yours sincerely

Information Rights Decision Maker