Operation ‘Bright Light’ Pilot for Domestic Abuse: The importance of digital evidence when investigating domestic abuse cases

• In Event: Improving Policing Responses to Domestic Violence and Abuse: Findings from collaborative academic work in England and Wales

Abstract

Research undertaken for ‘Operation Soteria’ found that digital evidence was poorly understood by many operational officers when investigating rape and serious sexual assault cases (May et al 2022). In particular, officers experienced difficulties navigating the volume of digital material in cases, creating digital strategies, undertaking effective, evidence-driven analysis of digital material, and understanding how digital material can often prove patterns of interpersonal and tech enabled coercive and controlling behaviour. This paper will discuss findings from the Project Bright Light’s pilot phase, conducted within one police force in England, based on interviews with officers and police staff, a review of police investigative case files, victim and suspect statements and force digital data processing notices. This presentation will outline the views of officers and police staff on the force approach to digital evidence in domestic abuse cases, the value and usefulness of the learning and development provided by their force on digital evidence; the difficulties they experience analysing and understanding digital evidence and how digital evidence can be particularly effective at bringing cases involving coercive and controlling behaviour to court.

Authors

• Tiggey May, ICPR, Birkbeck, University of London

• Emily Holtham, Birkbeck University