Force policy relating to the authorised release of digital evidence.

South Wales Police did not have the information requested.

Dear South Wales Police,

Under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act (2000), could you please provide me information regarding current police policy that authorises the release of evidence to commercial companies as instructed by legal clients in defence cases.

Can you please provide documentation of your forces policy relating to the release of (i) digital forensic images (covering evidential computer devices such as hard disk drives and memory cards), and (ii) physical digital devices, covering evidential items such as smartphones and satellite navigation devices.

Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Yours faithfully,

Stephen Haslett

South Wales Police

Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information Team (FOI) at South
Wales Police.  This message is to confirm that we have received your
correspondence. Please do not reply to this email.

Ydych chi angen siarad gyda'r heddlu ond nad oes angen ymateb brys arnoch?
Ffoniwch 101… Gellir defnyddio'r rhif i roi gwybod am achos nad yw'n un
brys i unrhyw heddlu yng Nghymru a Lloegr.

Mewn argyfwng, ffoniwch 999 bob amser.

 

Do you need to speak to police but don't require an emergency response?
Call 101… The number can be used to report a non-emergency to any force in
Wales and England.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

Mae Heddlu De Cymru yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg a Saesneg.
Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

South Wales Police welcomes receiving correspondence in Welsh and English.
Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and
corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.

South Wales Police

Dear Mr Haslett,

 

I write in relation to your request regarding authorised release of
digital evidence.

 

We have consulted with our legal department and they have asked us to
clarify the following:

 

Please can you clarify exactly what you are asking for? Are you asking for
disclosure process to defence solicitors and those instructed by them?

 

Once we have received your clarification, we will endeavour to get a
response to you as soon as possible.

In line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Section 10(6), the 20
working day timescale will be suspended until the required clarification
has been received, restarting on the date when the information is
received.  If we do not receive clarification from you then your request
will be closed 20 working days from the date of this email.

 

Kind regards,

Vicky Griffiths

Freedom of Information Team

Data Management Unit & Disclosure Unit/Rheoli Data ac Uned Datgelu

South Wales Police HQ/Pencadlys yr Heddlu

Cowbridge Road/Heol y Bont-Faen

Bridgend/Penybont ar Ogwr

CF31 3SU

DD Telephone/Telliffon 01656 303444

E-mail/E-bost: [1][email address]

 

 

P       Ystyriwch yr amgylchedd - oes angen argraffu'r e-bost hwn mewn
gwirionedd? / Please consider the environment - do you really need to
print this email? 

 

Ydych chi angen siarad gyda'r heddlu ond nad oes angen ymateb brys arnoch?
Ffoniwch 101 Gellir defnyddio'r rhif i roi gwybod am achos nad yw'n un
brys i unrhyw heddlu yng Nghymru a Lloegr.

Mewn argyfwng, ffoniwch 999 bob amser.

 

Do you need to speak to police but don't require an emergency response?
Call 101 The number can be used to report a non-emergency to any force in
Wales and England.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

Mae Heddlu De Cymru yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg a Saesneg.
Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

South Wales Police welcomes receiving correspondence in Welsh and English.
Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and
corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.

Dear South Wales Police,

To clarify, I seek documentation of your forces policy in the following instance:

A request is made by the defence to conduct a forensic analysis on digital evidence, upon which charges are being brought. I request clarification on your forces policy with regard to the procedure to be followed to facilitate defence access to the digital evidence.

This digital evidence may either be (i) digital forensic images (covering evidential computer devices such as hard disk drives and memory cards), and (ii) physical digital devices, covering evidential items such as smartphones and satellite navigation devices.

I hope this clarifies my request,

Yours faithfully,

Stephen Haslett

Dear South Wales Police,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of South Wales Police's handling of my FOI request 'Force policy relating to the authorised release of digital evidence.'.

Since being asked to confirm my request, I have been waiting since August 2017 for a reply.

No reply has been forthcoming.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/f...

Yours faithfully,

Stephen Haslett

South Wales Police

Dear Mr Haslett,

 

We apologise for the delay in sending out your response.

 

The internal review process only applies when a requestor has received a
response that they are not satisfied with. We will therefore endeavour to
get a response to your original request (942/17) to you as soon as
possible.

 

Kind regards,

 

Vicky Griffiths

Freedom of Information Team

Data Management Unit & Disclosure Unit/Rheoli Data ac Uned Datgelu

South Wales Police HQ/Pencadlys yr Heddlu

Cowbridge Road/Heol y Bont-Faen

Bridgend/Penybont ar Ogwr

CF31 3SU

DD Telephone/Telliffon 01656 303444

E-mail/E-bost: [1][email address]

 

Ydych chi angen siarad gyda'r heddlu ond nad oes angen ymateb brys arnoch?
Ffoniwch 101… Gellir defnyddio'r rhif i roi gwybod am achos nad yw'n un
brys i unrhyw heddlu yng Nghymru a Lloegr.

Mewn argyfwng, ffoniwch 999 bob amser.

 

Do you need to speak to police but don't require an emergency response?
Call 101… The number can be used to report a non-emergency to any force in
Wales and England.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

Mae Heddlu De Cymru yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg a Saesneg.
Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

South Wales Police welcomes receiving correspondence in Welsh and English.
Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and
corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.

show quoted sections

South Wales Police

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Haslett,

      

Your request for information has now been considered and our response is
attached.

                          

I trust that this information answers your request. Should you have any
queries and wish to contact us by e-mail, please do so using the mail box
[1][South Wales Police request email]. (Please do not reply directly to my own
e-mail address as this may result in a delay to your request).

                              

South Wales Police provides you the right to request a re-examination of
your case under its review procedure (copy attached). If you decide to
request such a review and having followed the Force’s full process you are
still dissatisfied, then you have the right to direct your comments to the
Information Commissioner who will give it consideration.

 

Kind Regards,

Freedom of Information Team

Data Management Unit & Disclosure Unit/Rheoli Data ac Uned Datgelu

South Wales Police HQ/Pencadlys yr Heddlu

Cowbridge Road/Heol y Bont-Faen

Bridgend/Penybont ar Ogwr

CF31 3SU

DD Telephone/Telliffon 01656 303444

E-mail/E-bost: [2][email address]

 

 

Ydych chi angen siarad gyda'r heddlu ond nad oes angen ymateb brys arnoch?
Ffoniwch 101 Gellir defnyddio'r rhif i roi gwybod am achos nad yw'n un
brys i unrhyw heddlu yng Nghymru a Lloegr.

Mewn argyfwng, ffoniwch 999 bob amser.

 

Do you need to speak to police but don't require an emergency response?
Call 101 The number can be used to report a non-emergency to any force in
Wales and England.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

Mae Heddlu De Cymru yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg a Saesneg.
Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

South Wales Police welcomes receiving correspondence in Welsh and English.
Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and
corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.

show quoted sections