With the increasing number of households now using computers and the reliance on computers by businesses both large and small, coupled with easy Internet access, it is almost inevitable that there will be at least one electronic device found during the course of an investigation. This may be a computer, but could also be a printer, mobile phone, personal organiser and so on. This electronic device may be central to the investigation or just on the periphery. No matter which, the information held on the computer may be crucial and must be investigated in the proper manner, especially if any evidence found is to be relied upon in a court of law.

Examples of how evidence found on a computer system may assist with the prosecution or defence of a case are manifold. A few of those examples are:

• Use/abuse of the Internet
• Production of false documents and accounts
• Encrypted/password protected material
• Theft of time
• Abuse of systems
• Email contact between suspects/conspirators
• Theft of commercial secrets
• Unauthorised transmission of information
• Records of movements
• Malicious attacks on the computer systems themselves
• Names and addresses of contacts

Our investigators have experience in a very wide range of scenarios. Not only do they investigate and report on the information held on computers (to Expert Witness standard for court) they also assist with reviewing other documention found, to identify pertinent and corroborating evidence.