FOI 622/25

REQUEST

With respect to multimedia forensic processes, could you please provide me with a copy of the most recent Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), guidance documents, or policy documents held by your force. For clarity, by multimedia forensics I refer specifically to the forensic analysis, enhancement, authentication, interpretation, and presentation of audio, video, and still-image material. This does not include general digital forensics (such as the extraction of data from computers, mobile devices, or other storage media). I am solely concerned with processes dealing directly with audio, video, and image evidence. Specifically, please provide the material requested in the following four bullet points:

1. A copy of the SOPs, guidance documents, or policy documents covering the forensic processing, enhancement, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of audio, video, and image material for investigative or evidential purposes.
2. Any internal multimedia forensic workflows, protocols, or standard practices related to handling such material.
3. The names of software, tools, or systems used for these processes, including any associated training or operational guidance.
4. The quality assurance, validation, or review procedures used to ensure the accuracy, authenticity, and admissibility of multimedia forensic evidence.

If the full SOPs or documents cannot be shared, I kindly request the following information in place of the SOP as per the following seven points:

5. A summary or description of the multimedia forensic processes followed.
6. SOP titles, version numbers, and the dates of their creation, last update, and validation/approval.
7. The roles, departments, or individuals responsible for authoring, validating, or approving the SOPs.
8. The legislation, policies, standards, or external guidance referenced during the development and/or review of the SOPs.
9. Whether the SOPs have undergone any ethical review or approval, and details of any such review processes or bodies involved.
10. Whether the SOPs have been externally validated, peer-reviewed, or accredited by any agency, professional body, or external organization.
11. Whether any SOPs are currently under review, have recently been amended, or are scheduled for updates, and the relevant timelines if applicable.

In addition to the previous, please provide responses to the following four points regarding the use of emerging technologies:

12. Please detail whether your multimedia forensic unit currently uses or has trialled artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) tools for: o Authentication (e.g., detecting edits, deepfakes, or tampering) o Enhancement (e.g., audio/video/image quality improvement) o Analysis or interpretation (e.g., transcription, object recognition, pattern matching) Note: a simple response is acceptable here such as "Authentication: Use. Enhancement: Trialled. Analysis: Not used"
13. If applicable, the names or vendors of the AI/ML tools used.
14. Whether the use of these tools is governed by any SOPs, internal policies, or ethical guidelines.
15. Whether the adoption and use of AI/ML tools have been subject to ethical review, oversight, or risk assessment, and any details of such reviews or assessments.

RESPONSE

Your request for information has now been considered and I am not obliged to supply the information you have requested.       

In relation to your request, the following exemption applies:

Section 12 – Exemption where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit.

We consulted with our Joint Scientific Investigation Unit who have provided the following information regarding your request.

While we cannot quantify how long it would take to locate and interrogate the information you require, it would most certainly exceed the 18 hours stipulated by the regulations. 

It is estimated that the cost of providing you with the information is above the amount to which we are legally required to respond i.e. the cost of locating and retrieving the information exceeds the "appropriate level" as stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004.

In the case of the police service, the appropriate limit is £450 which has been calculated to equate to a total of 18 hours of work.

If any part of the request exceeds the fees limit, then Section 12 applies to the whole request.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts as a refusal notice.

Excess cost removes the forces obligation under the Freedom of Information Act, however under Section 16 – Duty to provide advice and assistance, an authority is required to offer an applicant the opportunity to redefine their request within the cost limit. Unfortunately, due to the way in which data is recorded, we can see no feasible way in which you could refine your request.