Digital Forensic Unit procedures 292/2026

FOI Reference: 292/2026

Request 1 - 5:

1. Policies or Procedures for Archiving Mobile-Device Evidence

Please provide any recorded policies, procedures, or guidance documents that describe how your Digital Forensics Unit archives mobile-device digital evidence in cold-case investigations.

If held, these may include information on:

Whether evidence is stored using the original device, a forensic image, or both.

The types of files or data normally kept (for example: full extractions, images, or generated reports).

2. Storage Methods and Formats

Please provide any recorded information describing:

The types of storage media used to keep archived mobile-device evidence (e.g., hard drives, servers, cloud storage, etc.).

The file formats in which this evidence is stored (e.g., extraction images, exported reports, etc.).

(Only information already recorded in documents, logs, or inventories is requested.)

3. Reviews or Re-Examinations of Archived Mobile-Device Evidence

Please confirm whether statistics on re-examination activity are recorded, and if so, what information is held.

4. Access to Older or Legacy Formats

Please provide any recorded information on whether your Digital Forensics Unit keeps older or legacy forensic software, tools, or viewers to access mobile-device evidence stored in outdated or proprietary formats.

If recorded, please also provide any documented procedures for opening or converting older evidence formats.

5. SOPs for Reviewing Archived Evidence

Please provide any standard operating procedures (SOPs), policies, or guidance documents your Digital Forensics Unit holds that relate to the reviewing of archived mobile-device evidence in cold-case investigations.

If held, please also indicate whether these documents reference the Forensic Science Regulator's Code of Practice.

Response 1:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

The Digital Forensics Unit (DFU) does not hold any policies, procedures or documents to describe how we archive cold case investigations. However the DFU would hold a forensic image and any created reports for the required retention period.

Response 2:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

The DFU utilised tape archiving for long term storage.

Response 3:

I can confirm that there is no information held by Dyfed-Powys Police due to the fact that there are no statistics held. Therefore, this information is not recorded by Dyfed-Powys Police.

Response 4:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

An old version of viewing software is kept with the report or alternatively Excel or PDFs have also been created.

Response 5:

I can confirm that there is no information held by Dyfed-Powys Police due to the fact that none of our SOPs cover this area.

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 30/03/2026)