FOI 652/25

REQUEST

 

1.Device Submissions and Backlog

1. The number of devices currently awaiting examination.
   b. As of the present day, the number of devices that have been awaiting examination for under 30 days, 30 days - 3 months, 3 – 6 months, 6 months – 1 year and 2 – 3 years, 3 – 4 years, 4 years +.
2. Your force’s target turnaround time for completing forensic investigations.

 

2.Staffing and Capacity

1. The number of full-time equivalent staff currently working in the DFU, broken down by role if possible.
   b. Any vacancies or staffing shortfalls affecting the DFU in the last 12 months.

 

3.Accreditation and Quality

1. Whether your DFU is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025, and if so, for which types of digital forensic activity.

 

4.Efficiency Measures

1. Whether your DFU uses triage processes or tools to prioritise devices or speed up examination.
   b. Whether your force uses any form of AI or automation to support digital forensic work.
   c. Whether any part of your digital forensic workload is outsourced to external providers, and if so, approximately what percentage.
2. Please disclose any regional or national forensic units you've collaborated with within the past year. 

 

RESPONSE

 

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

 

Question 1a

 

There are currently 722 devices awaiting examination.

 

Question 1b

 

The current wait time on examination of devices:

 

Time	Total
Under 30 Days	108
30 Days – 3 Months	272
3 – 6 Months	294
6 – 12 Months	48
1+ Years	0

Question 1c

 

Case Priority	Timescale for Commencement
HIGH	Immediately
MEDIUM	Within 6 months
LOW	Within 12 months

 

Question 2a

 

Below is a list of staff in DFU

 

• 1 x Detective Chief Inspector – Deputy Director of Digital Forensics
• 1 x Police Staff Digital Forensics Manager
• 1 x Detective Inspector (Digital Forensics Officer)
• 5 x Detective Sergeant (2 x Digital Media Co-ordinators & 3 x Digital Forensic Investigators)
• 11 x Detective Constable Digital Forensic Investigators
• 8 x Police Staff Digital Forensic Investigators
• 12 x Police Staff Mobile Device Examiners
• 3 x Detective Constable Digital Media Investigators
• 1 x Police Staff Submissions & Victim ID Gatekeeper
• 1 x Police Staff Data Management Officer
• 2 x Police Staff Digital Forensic Technicians
• 1 x Police Staff ISO Technical Lead
• 2 x Police Staff Digital Forensic Intern
• 1 x Police Staff Digital Forensic Graduate
• 1 x Police Staff Digital Forensic Apprentice

 

Question 2b

 

There are currently 5 vacancies within South Wales DFU. There have been various police officer and police staff vacancies carried by the unit over the last 12 months.

 

Question 3a

 

South Wales Police DFU is accredited to ISO/IEC17025:2017 for the Capture and Preservation of Data from Conventional and Solid State Hard Drives. This is outlined on the UKAS website under Lab 28346.

 

Question 4a

 

Available triage tools are used where appropriate based on the case under investigation. All cases submitted to the DFU are prioritised based on the national prioritisation matrix.

Question 4b

 

South Wales DFU do not use any AI tooling. Software automation has been used in recent years to support data processing functions.

 

Question 4c

 

South Wales DFU outsourced 45 cases in 2024. This equates to 4.6% of the overall cases submitted to the DFU in 2024. No outsourcing has taken place to date in 2025.

 

Question 4d

 

South Wales DFU is currently working towards joining a collaborative unit which will include Dyfed Powys and Gwent Police, a project due to complete in 2028.