By Samantha Jones-
In a significant step toward bolstering the fight against rape and serious sexual offenses (RASSO), the Police Digital Service (PDS) has successfully rolled out its Rape Review Response Project Tech Uplift 2 (RRRP2).
This initiative, funded with a substantial £4 million from the Home Office, marks a pivotal moment in enhancing the digital forensic capabilities of police forces across England and Wales.
The funding for the PDS Digital Forensics Programme was allocated by the Home Office in October 2022 for a second ‘tech uplift’ of the Rape Review Response Project, in response to the End-to-End Rape Review Report and the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy.
Building on the achievements of the first uplift (RRRP1), RRRP2 has equipped 31 police forces with state-of-the-art hardware, software, training, and validation support, aiming to address the worrying concerns surrounding insufficient convictions in rape cases.
The impact of RRRP2 has already been tangible, with 244 pieces of advanced digital equipment distributed to digital forensic specialists and frontline officers across the 31 police forces in England and Wales:
Laptops: 161 laptops have been configured to enable officers to swiftly and reliably examine mobile phones at crime scenes, victims’ locations, or within their respective forces. This technology is designed to streamline the collection of digital evidence, ensuring investigations progress more efficiently.
Kiosks: 38 kiosks, fixed-site computers designed for targeted searches, now enhance the capabilities of the police forces. These devices are instrumental in sifting through digital data for relevant information.
Tablets: The distribution of 45 tablets to the police forces allows for portable, rapid data extraction without the need to seize victims’ mobile devices. This is a crucial step in preserving privacy and ensuring victims’ cooperation.
In recognition of the importance of having specially trained officers, the Home Office has significantly increased the training budget for the Rape Review Response Project.
This has enabled them to offer more than 900 courses, including certification and training to upskill more than 700 police officers and specialist staff.
In a pioneering move, Derbyshire Constabulary and Suffolk Constabulary have been granted the authority to provide tailored, in-force training to their officers and staff, further enhancing the capacity of the police forces to tackle rape and sexual offenses.
Tony Blaker, senior responsible owner at the PDS, emphasized the far-reaching benefits of this initiative, stating, “This initiative, delivered by PDS with Home Office funding, enables the participating police forces to examine digital devices quicker, selectively gather only the necessary evidence to carry out the investigation, and avoid having to take phones from victims and witnesses in most cases.
This leads to a more efficient evidence collection and swifter investigations.”
The PDS remains committed to leading the way in police digital transformation efforts, with a focus on improving the investigation of rape and building confidence in the criminal justice system.
This latest initiative promises to revolutionize the response to rape and sexual offenses, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight for justice and accountability.