Brown hails initial success of digital evidence pilot

An initiative to transform digitally how evidence is managed across the justice system is now being piloted in Dundee.

Named Digital Evidence Sharing Capability ("DESC"), it provides a secure and robust system that will for the first time allow prosecutors, court staff, police officers and defence lawyers to access a unified system to handle evidence digitally. The Scottish Government has invested £33m in the scheme.

DESC handles evidence including CCTV footage, photographs, and data and other materials from computers and mobile devices. This will be expanded to include documents and recordings of police interviews. 

Members of the public and businesses will be able to submit digital evidence – such as material recorded on mobile phones – more easily by email when sent a link by a police officer. Only approved staff from justice organisations will be able to access DESC software. Access is fully audited and monitored.

The project involves collaboration between the Scottish Government, Police Scotland, Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service, Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service, the Scottish Police Authority and the defence community.

Claimed benefits of the system include reducing the impact on victims and witnesses by supporting quicker resolution of cases as well as reducing police officer workloads. It will also significantly reduce the need to transport physical evidence, supporting wider carbon reduction efforts. A nationwide rollout is planned for later this year.

While the pilot will deal with summary cases only, it is envisaged that DESC will be expanded to include solemn business at a later stage.

Justice Secretary Keith Brown commented: "This is a significant milestone in our overhaul of how evidence is managed through Scotland's justice system.

"From crime scene to courtroom, DESC will allow victims and others involved in criminal cases to move on with their lives sooner and free up officers' time to focus more on frontline policing.

"No other country in the world has invested in a digital evidence solution which serves each part of the criminal justice system equally."

He added: "Already the pilot – which began in January – is proving extremely successful, with 600 cases handled and a guilty plea in a case involving digital evidence."