FOI 258652
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 258652
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 26th June 2023. Please find below the response to your request:
- Digital Evidence Department: a) Does your police force deal with video and image evidence? b) if so, which department deals with it?
- Software: a) What image and video software is used in this department?
Challenges and limitations: a) What are the main issues you find with Video evidence? For example, underexposure or blur image/videos?
- Training and Expertise: a) Has your police force provided training to digital forensic staff on the use of Video Editing software? If yes, please provide details on the type of training given.
- Amped Five: Do you use the software Amped FIVE in your department? if not, why is this and do you use external providers?
- b) if used, what factors influenced the decision to acquire Amped FIVE?
- Frequency and Scope of Use: a) How frequently is Amped Five used within your police force's digital forensic investigations?
- b) In what types of cases or scenarios is Amped Five typically employed?
- c) Are there any specific features or capabilities of Amped Five that are particularly valuable in your investigative processes?
- Collaboration and Support: a) Does your police force collaborate with other law enforcement agencies or organizations in using Amped Five for digital forensic investigations?
- b) Do you have any established relationships or partnerships with Amped Software for technical support, updates, or feedback?
- Outcomes and Admissibility: a) Can you provide information on any cases where the use of Amped Five has contributed to successful outcomes or convictions?
- b) Have there been any instances where the results or findings obtained through the use of Amped Five have been challenged in court? If so, please provide brief details.
Reply
- Digital Evidence Department: a) Does your police force deal with video and image evidence? b) if so, which department deals with it?
Yes, there is an ‘Imaging’ team that sits within our Digital Forensics Unit.
- Software: a) What image and video software is used in this department?
Challenges and limitations: a) What are the main issues you find with Video evidence? For example, underexposure or blur image/videos?
Amped FIVE
DVR Examiner
Adobe CC
Cinema 4D
2 b. S8(1)(c) Please be advised that this is not a valid request for information under the Freedom of information Act 2000 (“the Act”) as it does not fulfil the requirement of s.8 of the Act. It is not a request for specific recorded information and the authority does not have to answer your questions if this would mean creating new information or giving an opinion or judgement that is not already recorded. Please be advised that the Act only extends to requests for recorded information. It does not require public authorities to answer questions generally and does not extend to requests for information about policies or their implementation, or the merits or demerits of any proposal or action unless the answer to any such request is already held in recorded form.
- Training and Expertise: a) Has your police force provided training to digital forensic staff on the use of Video Editing software? If yes, please provide details on the type of training given.
Yes – LEVA training and software-specific training courses and webinars alongside in house competencies and training plans.
- Amped Five: Do you use the software Amped FIVE in your department? if not, why is this and do you use external providers? b) if used, what factors influenced the decision to acquire Amped FIVE?
Yes capabilities were unmatched at the time of initial purchase, auditability and support are excellent.
- Frequency and Scope of Use: a) How frequently is Amped Five used within your police force's digital forensic investigations?
- b) In what types of cases or scenarios is Amped Five typically employed?
- c) Are there any specific features or capabilities of Amped Five that are particularly valuable in your investigative processes?
Used daily
Used for clarification of video/images, compilations, video conversion, basic video editing, concatenation of files, file information.
- Collaboration and Support: a) Does your police force collaborate with other law enforcement agencies or organizations in using Amped Five for digital forensic investigations?
- b) Do you have any established relationships or partnerships with Amped Software for technical support, updates, or feedback?
No
No – we use the support portal.
- Outcomes and Admissibility: a) Can you provide information on any cases where the use of Amped Five has contributed to successful outcomes or convictions?
- b) Have there been any instances where the results or findings obtained through the use of Amped Five have been challenged in court? If so, please provide brief details.
No, due to limitations of our case managements system we are not able to provide this specific data.
No, use of Amped FIVE has not been challenged in court.