*Update* This event has already happened. If you'd like to watch the recording, please contact fcn@dorset.pnn.police.uk from your police email address and we'll send you the link and password.

Are you responsible for digital forensic validation in a police force? If so, you may be interested in an informal workshop on FCN's new national approach to validation.

  • What: Digital forensics validation workshop
  • When: Monday 29th March 1400-1500
  • Who: Strictly police forces only. Max 250 attendees, first come, first served
  • How: Sign-up here using your force email address, and attend via Microsoft Teams
  • When you sign up, we'll send you a calendar invitation directly

Validating forensic processes separately is time consuming and inefficient. That's especially true within digital forensics, where there are an ever-increasing number of tools, but not enough time for controlled validation studies.

A national approach, coordinated by FCN, means sharing the validation workload. That will save valuable resources which can be better used meeting operational demand. 

The core of the process will be discipline-specific workstreams. Each workstream will comprise several forces, working with FCN staff and SME. They will produce validation packages for distribution to other forces. At the same time, we will be exploring opportunities to further improve the process.

Hema Kotecha and Matthew Watson will be leading the digital workshop. Hema is a validation specialist with FCN. She's been a DFU technical manager and has worked in a regional cyber-crime unit. Matthew is a project manager with the national Transforming Forensics programme. 

Hema said:

“Forces shouldn’t have to go through this process in isolation. It makes no sense for everyone to work separately on a validation approach to, say, mobile phone data, when a handful of forces could do the bulk work and share the outcome.

“That’s why we’re proposing a shared approach, with the FCN team coordinating work streams. This central coordinating role is something police forensics has been missing for years and it’s what the FCN was set up to provide.”

Sign-up here.

This central coordinating role is something police forensics has been missing for years.