More digital evidence driving major change in UK courts

Digital units similar to sensible doorbells, dashcam footage, automotive GPS methods and even Amazon Alexa are offering more and more extra proof in felony trials within the United Kingdom, a high prosecutor on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) stated on Monday.

The CPS represents India in extradition circumstances which have lately seen video footage of Arthur Road jail in Mumbai, the place people sought by India are to be lodged, whereas witnesses from India have deposed digitally by means of video hyperlinks.

Max Hill, director of public prosecutions, stated developments in digital know-how are driving vital adjustments in the best way proof is collected and utilized in UK courts.

He stated: “As little as 15 years ago, criminal investigations and subsequent prosecutions were likely to focus on the crime scene for evidence backed up by eye witness testimonies and door-to-door enquiries”.

“This has been transformed by the way we now live our lives and share information online. The digital devices which are becoming part of the fabric of everyday life, like smart phones, social media and even things like Alexa can actively provide key evidence to pinpoint whereabouts, provide footage of an incident or a timeline”.

“Alexa has already been used as a line of enquiry in a murder case the US. The opportunities and threats presented by the digital age is a constantly evolving challenge for all parts of the criminal justice system, as well as for wider society,” he instructed the Westminster Policy Forum.

He cited an instance of how the GPS system in a Land Rover Discovery was instrumental in offering proof throughout a crossbow homicide case earlier this yr. Following the dying, the defendant was questioned about his possession of crossbows, nevertheless it was solely two week later when the GPS system was retrieved from his companion’s burned-out car that important proof was discovered.

Information retained by Jaguar Land Rover proved the automotive had been used for reconnaissance because it was traced to the sufferer’s driveway the night time earlier than the homicide. It additionally confirmed that the automotive had travelled to the crime scene once more the next night time and remained till 12 minutes after the sufferer was shot.

The system indicated the boot was opened and closed when the automotive arrived and earlier than it left. The offender was convicted and acquired a life sentence.

Hill added: “The detectives of the past could only dream of the modern opportunities to gather and deploy evidence. But these also represent unprecedented evidential challenges. Just as technology is changing the nature of crime, technological innovations will change investigations”.

“Machine learning and artificial intelligence is being developed to be more effective and reliable in sifting through vast amounts of data…This is a fast moving landscape and we will not and must not stand still.”