Police working to reduce digital evidence delays

Follows concerns that court cases are being held-up

Efforts are underway to try and stop court cases from being delayed due to evidence not being provided on time.

The Isle of Man Constabulary says the demands on its digital evidence team are ‘only growing’ and it’s now looking at ways to try and grow the workforce within its ‘budgetary constraints’.

Concerns have been raised in recent summary court hearings, at Douglas Courthouse, that CCTV and body-worn footage isn’t always being produced to the Attorney General’s Chambers on time.

This leads to delays passing it on to advocates which results in them requesting adjournments for their clients.

One prosecutor told the court: “The digital evidence unit is clearly swamped.”  

In response the Isle of Man Constabulary told Manx Radio: "In the current age of policing most investigations have an element of digital evidence - the processes to provide this evidence to the court requires highly skilled and trained digital evidence staff who are a relatively small team within the constabulary.

"Whilst they work extremely hard the demands are only growing - as such on occasions there have been delays in being able to provide this evidence to the court in the time frame requested.

"The constabulary is looking at ways to try and grow this team which is difficult within its budgetary constraints.

"In the meantime we continue to work with the Attorney Generals, courts and defence advocates to use technology that enables them to have access to this evidence in a quicker timeframe that will enable the courts to administer justice in a timely fashion."