‘We need more detectives’

18 May 2020

Hertfordshire Police Federation secretary Al Wollaston has warned delays in examining digital devices such as laptops, mobile phones and tablets - could mean hold-ups in bringing offenders to justice.

Al says investment in recruiting new detectives and in training for current investigators would help tackle the backlog and ensure justice for victims.

He was speaking after a Press Association investigation found that 915 devices were awaiting examination in Hertfordshire with 12,122 devices across England and Wales.

“This is not an issue just for us here in Hertfordshire,” Geoff said. “Detectives nationwide have a huge amount sheer of digital evidence to examine. Extracting evidence from digital devices and analysing it can take considerable time and particular skills.

“This is why we’re calling for extra support, including more detectives to reduce workloads, investment in new technology to help extract data, and ensuring that current investigators have the up to date training they need.”

Al’s comments were supported by John Apter, the chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW).

He said: “Victims need to have the confidence to report offences and to have the reassurance that it will be investigated in a timely manner. Some of the delays we see up and down the country are unacceptable but are not the fault of our hard-working detectives.

“Today, many more investigations involve the need to interrogate electronic devices, whether mobile phones, laptops or tablets. Some of these can be incredibly complex and painstaking and will understandably take time to do what’s required.

“Some will say these should be priorities, I agree but so is domestic violence, child exploitation, knife crime, cyber-crime and all the others.

“The pressure on policing continues which is why a long-term funding formula is needed to give chief constables and police and crime commissioners the ability to plan.”

The Police Federation’s Detectives in Crisis campaign continues to highlight shortfall between demand and capacity in investigative policing and to call on senior officers and PCCs to redress the balance.