Digi vans and fraud house in the spotlight

The force’s new digital forensic vans have been highlighted on TV this week after publicity about them was picked up by the BBC.

Mobile phones belonging to victims and suspects are now being analysed at crime scenes following the roll-out of the vehicles.

The force now has two unmarked “digi vans”, equipped with digital forensic technology which make them a mobile lab. This allows digital evidence to be identified and extracted at crime scenes reducing the number of devices being taken into police custody.

After publicity about the vans, an interview request was received from Crimewatch Live.

DCI Denise Harper said: “I was really pleased that the producers had looked through our news archives and the digi vans were something they picked out and liked the sound of finding out more about.

“Detective Sergeant Sean Denby and I drove one of the vans to the Crimewatch studio in Wales for the interview, which happened live on yesterday’s programme.

“It was fantastic to be given the chance to publicise the vans on television and talk about our digital forensics work.”

The force has also implemented new processes which aim to return adult victims of rape their devices within 24 hours, something which Denise said producers were also keen to find out more about.

DI Harper added: “These new processes are very beneficial to victims of rape because it means they do not have to go to a police station, the phone work can be done there and then, and they do not have to leave their own home; we go to them.

 “We want to minimise the trauma experienced by survivors as much as possible by returning devices quickly. These improved digital capabilities will mean digital evidence will be more readily available, ensuring offenders are brought to justice swiftly.

“This is a great example of departments working together, transforming processes and feeding in to the wider VAWG strategy.”

The vans – partially funded by the Home Office – include state-of-the-art technology that enables targeted and specific searches, to limit intrusion. 

The force’s specially trained Digital Media Investigators can at scene identify devices that contain evidence of offending, meaning fewer devices are seized and more are therefore returned back to their owners at the scene.

Denise said: “This process is especially useful when dealing with paedophiles who operate online. Early identification of evidence has meant more early anticipated guilty pleas, enabling swift justice for victims and saving valuable time and money.”

Also featured on Tuesday’s Crimewatch Live was an interview with Detective Constable Dan Harper, who investigated a Cambridge case of a tenant who tried to sell the house he rented without his landlord’s knowledge.

Andrew Smith, 41, was only caught out in his “truly brazen crime” when a prospective buyer conducted a drain survey at the property. He was jailed for more than two years back in November in a case that gained national media coverage.

Dan said: “This was a particularly unique investigation and not something frequently encountered by detective constables in CID. I certainly had to do my research before I began the investigation.

“It goes to show fraud comes in many different forms and in this case I think both officers and members of the public have struggled to comprehend how someone could essentially steal another person’s house.

“I’m really pleased a case of this nature has featured on Crimewatch, it highlights the diversity of what we do as a force and the positive outcomes we’re able to secure.”

To watch Tuesday's Crimewatch Live episode, featuring a tour of one of the digital vans and more on the fraud case, visit the BBC iPlayer website.