Published on PublicTechnology.net (https://www.publictechnology.net)

Home > Scotland to implement digital evidence-sharing system

Scotland to implement digital evidence-sharing system

Written by Jenni Davidson on 30 September 2019 in News
News

Government commences procurement process for technology tool

Sharing of digital evidence across the justice system in Scotland is about to take a step forward with the setting up of a new national data-sharing system.

The Scottish Government has launched the procurement process for a new digital evidence sharing capability (DESC).

DESC is a collaboration between the Scottish Government, Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the defence community that aims to transform the way that digital evidence is managed throughout criminal investigations and prosecutions.

It will allow users such as police officers, prosecutors, court staff and defence agents to digitally access evidence in an efficient and user-friendly way.


Related content

  • Government and police chiefs consider options for managing digital evidence [1]
  • EE swipes £21m mobile deal with Police Scotland [2]
  • NPCC leader: ‘Virtually every crime today has a digital footprint’ [3]

The system could allow cases to be resolved faster and improve the experiences of victims and witnesses. It will allow for earlier consideration and disclosure of evidence, reducing unnecessary inconvenience to witnesses and the risk of traumatising victims further. It also could reduce costs involved in managing and transporting evidence such as CCTV footage, video interviews and forensic images in physical form.

The data will be held in secure facilities that are certified for the storage and access of evidential material. Evidence will only be accessible by approved staff such as police officers, fiscal officers and defence agents, with access to the information monitored and audited.

Justice secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We are taking action to improve the experiences of victims and witnesses at every stage of the criminal justice process. This change will make a real difference to the time taken for cases to come court, allowing those involved in criminal cases to move on with their lives sooner. Reducing delays is just one of the benefits of this project, which will make evidence sharing more cost effective and provide the groundwork for further modernisation of the criminal process.”

 

About the author

Jenni Davidson is a journalist at PublicTechnology sister publication Holyrood [4], where a version of this story first appeared. She tweets as @HolyroodJenni [5].

Tags
Cybersecurity [6]
Data [7]
Leadership [8]
Transformation [9]
Categories
Defence and Security [10]
Public order, justice and rights [11]
Dods PublicTechnology.net is a Dods Group plc title

Site Sections

  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Features
  • Private Sector Insight
  • White Papers
  • Events
  • Partner Directory
  • About
  • Contact

Services

Dods PeopleDods MonitoringDods ResearchDods EventsDods Training

Media & publishing titles

Politics HomeThe HouseThe Parliament MagazineHolyroodTotal PoliticsPublic Affairs NewsCivil Service WorldPublicTechnologyTraining JournalDods Parliamentary CompanionVacher's Quarterly The European Union and Public Affairs Directory

Dods events

Westminster BriefingDigital Health & Care ScotlandMEP AwardsThe Skills SummitScottish Public Service AwardsPublic Sector Procurement SummitPublic Sector ICT SummitCyber Security SummitCyber Security 2017Training Journal Awards

Partnership events

The Health and Care Innovation ExpoCivil Service LiveCivil Service AwardsChief Nursing Officer for England's SummitWomen into LeadershipThe Youth Justice ConventionSocitm Spring ConferenceNHSCC Annual Members' EventDods at Party Conference
Privacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsAdvertisingSponsorship Subscriptions
  • Registered office: 11th Floor
  • The Shard
  • 32 London Bridge Street
  • London SE1 9SG
  • Company number: 04267888
  • © Dods Group plc 2017

Source URL: https://www.publictechnology.net/articles/news/scotland-implement-digital-evidence-sharing-system

Links
[1] https://www.publictechnology.net/articles/news/government-and-police-chiefs-consider-options-managing-digital-evidence
[2] https://www.publictechnology.net/articles/news/ee-swipes-%C2%A321m-mobile-deal-police-scotland
[3] https://www.publictechnology.net/articles/news/npcc-leader-%E2%80%98virtually-every-crime-today-has-digital-footprint%E2%80%99
[4] https://www.holyrood.com/
[5] https://twitter.com/holyroodjenni?lang=en
[6] https://www.publictechnology.net/tags/cybersecurity
[7] https://www.publictechnology.net/tags/data
[8] https://www.publictechnology.net/tags/leadership
[9] https://www.publictechnology.net/tags/transformation
[10] https://www.publictechnology.net/categories/defence-and-security
[11] https://www.publictechnology.net/categories/public-order-justice-and-rights