By Lucy Caulkett-
Backlogs in retrieving digital evidence from mobile phones and other devices are posing a significant challenge in the fight against cybercrime, contributing to delays in court proceedings, according to a follow-up review by the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI).
The report, published on Thursday, November 23, evaluated progress in implementing inspection recommendations to enhance how the criminal justice system addresses cybercrime in Northern Ireland.
Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland, Jacqui Durkin,(pictured) highlighted that four out of the seven recommendations had been fully or partially achieved, while the remaining three had not been achieved six years after the original inspection report was published.
Durkin emphasized the evolving nature of cybercrime, citing the increased use of technology in daily life, which has heightened the risk of individuals and organizations falling victim to cybercrime.
The Chief Inspector acknowledged positive developments in the cybercrime landscape, such as the Strategic Framework for Action on Cybercrime established in 2018 and the launch of the Cyber Security Centre in 2020.
She also commended the role of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and its Cybercrime Team in addressing the broader cybercrime threat.
However, the report highlighted ongoing challenges, including a lack of progress on strategic recommendations made in 2017, emphasizing the need for better statistical analysis and management information to support demand modeling for future resource needs.
The review found that while the Cyber Support Units within the PSNI were generally effective, backlogs in mobile phone analysis persisted, leading to delays in processing requests and contributing to case delays in court.
The report called for continued strategic organization of services and resource capability by the PSNI to keep pace with technological developments in cybercrime. The need for enhanced engagement with partners and effective prevention measures were also emphasized.