Digital forensics
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/25/003984/A
Version Date: 12/12/2025
South West Regional Forensics has provided the following information:
The information provided is the data recorded as at 27 October 2025.
I'm happy to limit the request in the way you suggest.
If you would like to make a new request, which narrows the scope of your current
request, we may be able to comply with that request within the appropriate limit. For
example, you may wish to omit the Supplementary point about the breakdown of
devices altogether. In addition, regarding Q8, we may be able to provide a figure for
the number of cases in the queue as of December for each year. A case can contain
multiple exhibits.
Previous request:
I’d like to request the following information under the FOI Act. It concerns investigations which involve digital forensics.
1. How many staff in your force/contractors are currently assigned to work on digital forensics (examining digital devices seized for evidence as part of investigations).
18
- What is the current average time it takes to examine a device (from seizing to completion).
The median processing time (days) from submitted to completed is 204. - What is the current backlog of digital devices which your force needs to examine.
327 - How many current investigations involve examining digital devices and what percentage of your total number of ongoing investigations is this?
Inofmration not held. - What is the current waiting time for the device which has been waiting to be investigated the longest and what kind of allegation/investigation does this relate to?
The oldest case in the queue is 73 weeks. The crime for this case is Drug Offences. - If a contractor firm is used to carry out this work, could I please ask what it is and how much the firm is paid.
Over the last 12 months, we have outsourced to SYTECH Consultants Ltd. Following a new procurement exercise, a contract has been awarded to CYFOR Forensics.
The total budget for outsourcing over the past 12 months was – £226,179.
- If the cost limit has not yet been reached, could I please ask what the answer was to question two in each of the most five recent calendar years. (IE) 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020.
2020 – 78
2021 – 93
2022 – 176
2023 – 220
2024 – 169
- If the cost limit has still not been reached, could I please ask for the answer to question three for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020. Please provide an average backlog figure.
The number of cases in the queue as of December for each year. Please note, a case can contain multiple exhibits.
2020 – 166
2021 – 188
2022 – 264
2023 – 131
2024 – 152
Sorry, for question three, could I also have a breakdown of devices - ie phones, ipads etc.
This supplementary point has been dropped from the request as agreed to avoid it being over the 18-hour fee limit.